Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reacts to a question during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing in 2021. (EJ Hersom/Department of Defense)
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from a hospital Monday after a two-week stay for complications from prostate cancer surgery that he kept hidden from White House and Pentagon officials.
“Secretary Austin progressed well throughout his stay and his strength is rebounding. He underwent a series of medical tests and evaluations and received non-surgical care during his stay to address his medical needs, to include resolving some lingering leg pains,” his doctors said in a statement released by the Pentagon. “He was discharged home with planned physical therapy and regular follow-up. The secretary is expected to make a full recovery.”
The doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., added he has no further planned treatment for cancer except “regular post-prostatectomy surveillance.”
Austin, 70, had been in the hospital since Jan. 1 after experiencing complications from the surgery, which was conducted Dec. 22. The secretary has come under scrutiny after he failed to notify President Joe Biden and other government officials about his illness and hospital stay.
Austin seemed to acknowledge in a statement Jan. 6 that he made a misstep by keeping his hospitalization private.
“I understand the media concerns about transparency, and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better,” he said. “But this is important to say: This was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.”
During a regular health screening in early December, Austin’s cancer was detected. He was admitted to the hospital about three weeks later for a prostatectomy, which involves surgery to remove part of the prostate gland. The doctors called it “a minimally invasive surgical procedure.” Austin was under general anesthesia during the surgery and left the hospital the following morning.
On Jan. 1, Austin returned to Walter Reed after experiencing pain in his abdomen, hip and leg, the doctors said. He was later found to have a urinary tract infection, and Austin spent days in the intensive care unit before he was moved to a private section of the hospital.
During Austin’s medical treatments, no one at the Defense Department notified the White House, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Congress or the public for several days. On Jan. 2, Austin transferred some of his more pressing responsibilities to Hicks, who was on vacation in Puerto Rico.
Biden did not learn of Austin’s prostate cancer until Tuesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week. That same day, the White House ordered all Cabinet members or secretaries must immediately notify the administration if at any time they cannot perform their duties.
The Pentagon has said other factors also contributed to the breakdown in communication, including Austin’s chief of staff being sick with the flu last week and thus unable to make the notifications. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, has said he was reluctant to tell reporters about the hospitalization until he had more information on Austin’s condition.
Secretaries of Cabinet departments and other top government officials typically notify the White House and the public when they are planning to be hospitalized. In 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland notified the public a week ahead of a medical procedure, and the Pentagon immediately announced in 2006 when then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had surgery on his shoulder.
The Defense Department inspector general announced Thursday that Austin’s handling of his hospitalization will be investigated. Robert Storch, the inspector general, disclosed the review in a memo to Austin, Hicks and other officials, saying his office would begin the investigation this month.
“The objective of the review is to examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions related to the secretary of defense’s hospitalization in December 2023-January 2024 and assess whether the DOD’s policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership,” Storch wrote.
The IG review comes after the Pentagon announced last week that it would conduct a 30-day review of the incident.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, also launched a formal inquiry Tuesday into Austin’s failure to disclose his illness and hospitalization.
Rogers is asking Austin, Hicks and Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, to answer detailed questions and hand over documents related to delays in informing the White House, top Pentagon officials and lawmakers about Austin’s medical condition.
“As you must be aware, this lack of transparency is inexcusable and could have resulted in calamity,” Rogers wrote in a letter to Magsamen. “Congress must understand how this unacceptable breakdown in disclosure concerning the secretary’s capacity to lead the [Defense] Department occurred.”
Republican senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee submitted a letter Wednesday to Austin with questions regarding what unfolded.
“Our branches of government share a sacred obligation to work together to keep the American people safe. We cannot do this without clear and open communication,” the senators wrote. “Your statement provided on Jan. 6 is wholly insufficient to address the situation.”
