11-1-2024 (WASHINGTON) The White House has disclosed that President Joe Biden was only informed on Tuesday about the cancer treatment of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who has faced criticism for the delayed notification to senior officials.
Mr. Austin, 70, was admitted to the hospital on January 1 and later to the intensive care unit due to complications following surgery in December. The revelation of his medical condition raised concerns about national security and transparency within the Biden administration.
The defence secretary, a key figure in the president’s Cabinet, holds a crucial position just below the president in the US military’s chain of command.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby admitted that President Biden learned about Secretary Austin’s prostate cancer diagnosis that day. He acknowledged that the communication process was “not optimal” and stated, “This is not the way it is supposed to go.”
Despite expressing initial concern for Austin’s health, President Biden and Secretary Austin have not communicated since their last interaction over the weekend, according to Kirby. Furthermore, Austin’s deputy, Kathleen Hicks, was not informed of his hospitalization, despite being asked to assume some of his responsibilities.
In December 2023, doctors identified prostate cancer during a checkup, leading to a minimally invasive surgical procedure on December 22 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Complications arose on January 1, 2024, resulting in a urinary tract infection. Austin was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit for further treatment.
Doctors confirmed that Austin never lost consciousness during this hospital stay and underwent a general anaesthetic only during the surgical procedure in December. The infection has cleared, and he is making progress towards a full recovery, although the process is expected to be slow. The cancer was detected early, and doctors expressed optimism about his prognosis.
While a spokesman for Austin did not provide a discharge update, he stated that Austin “continues to recover well and remains in good spirits.”
During a Tuesday briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj Gen Pat Ryder did not offer an explanation for the delayed disclosure of Austin’s condition. He mentioned that a prostate cancer diagnosis is deeply personal, but procedures for notifying about hospital stays are under review to ensure better communication in the future.
On Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients directed members of the president’s Cabinet to provide notice when they are unable to perform their duties.
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