--- title: "Defense Secretary Austin taken to hospital for bladder issue" description: "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was taken to Walter Reed earlier today. The Pentagon said that he is maintaining his duties." date: "2024-02-11" modified: "2024-02-11" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/defense-secretary-austin-taken-to-hospital-for-bladder-issue/" categories: - "News" --- # Defense Secretary Austin taken to hospital for bladder issue ![defense secretary lloyd austin]() *Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (Department of Defense)* Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this afternoon, the Pentagon announced today. It’s the [second time]() in two months that he has been taken to Walter Reed. Secretary Austin was taken to Walter Reed shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern Time “to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said. “At this time, the Secretary is retaining the functions and duties of his office. The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense, if required,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. “Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.” The White House, Congress, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Deputy Secretary of Defense were all notified of Austin’s hospital visit, Ryder said in his statement. That’s a big difference from Austin’s [earlier hospitalization]() at the start of January. [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.** Austin was taken to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 for [complications]() tied to prostate cancer surgery that occurred in late December. Austin was taken there by ambulance and put in intensive care. He did not notify President Joe Biden or Congressional leaders, nor disclose his cancer diagnosis until he had already been in the hospital for several days. During his stay at the hospital he transferred some duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who did not learn that he was hospitalized until two days after that transfer. Austin was released from Walter Reed after two weeks and returned to the Pentagon on Jan. 29. He has acknowledged that he should have communicated with top officials and the White House about his diagnosis and hospitalization, saying “We did not handle this right, and I did not handle this right.” Earlier this week the Pentagon wrapped up its own internal review of Austin’s lack of disclosure and hospital visit. This week Austin’s office [confirmed]() he would testify before Congress about his hospitalization and lack of communication and transparency with government leaders. That testimony was set for Feb. 29; it is unclear if today’s hospital visit will lead to any rescheduling. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - [**Fired Navy Captain**]() **created ‘toxic’ climate, grabbed and struck crew on duty** - **What’s the** [**difference**]() **between Army Rangers and Green Berets?** - **When a veteran lost his farm, fellow paratroopers** [**came to the rescue**]() - **Sergeant,** [**it’s cold outside**]()**! How the Army is revising its wind chill rules** - **Everything you need to know about** [**Ranger School**]() ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()