Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made headlines last month for failing to inform President Joe Biden of his stay in the intensive care unit.

Now, Austin has been hospitalized again.

His security detail rushed him to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon for “symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Before Sunday, Austin had planned to retain the “functions and duties of his office.” Then at around 5 p.m., he changed his mind and transferred power to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

This time, Congress, the White House, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were all informed of Austin’s plans to transfer power.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. He underwent a procedure called a prostatectomy on Dec. 22, and he’s been suffering complications since that treatment. In January, he was rushed to the intensive care unit for extreme pain, and he stayed in the hospital for 14 days, before working from home for an additional 14 days.

Initially, Austin failed to disclose his diagnosis or last month’s decision to appoint a deputy. He claims to have never instructed his staff to hide his diagnosis, but he’s still facing an investigation by the inspector general… and an internal review by the Pentagon.

Despite Sunday’s hospitalization, Austin still expected to make a full recovery, according to hospital officials.

“The current bladder issue is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery,” Trauma Center Medical Director Dr. John Maddox and Director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research Dr. Gregory Chesnut said in a statement Sunday evening.

The hospital officials added that Austin was staying in a critical care unit for monitoring. However, they remain unsure about when Austin will leave.

Austin was set to meet with NATO’s defense ministers this week, and it remains unclear whether he’s canceled the meeting.

As of Sunday evening, he remains in the hospital.

 

January flashback: Joe Biden revealed to have lost contact with secretary of defense for three days

 

The Horn editorial team