Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Military Medical Center's intensive care unit on Sunday, after transferring his duties to the deputy defense secretary earlier in the day.
Austin, 70, underwent a series of tests and evaluations Sunday night at Walter Reed after showing symptoms “suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” earlier in the day, the hospital's doctors said in a statement. He was later admitted into the critical care unit for “supportive care and close monitoring,” doctors added.
The Pentagon announced Austin's hospitalization earlier on Sunday and confirmed Austin transferred his functions and duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks shortly before 5 p.m.
The move comes more than a month after Austin had a weeks-long hospitalization in early January for an infection stemming from surgery for prostate cancer. His hospitalization drew controversy after news broke the White House and Hicks were not made aware of his hospitalization until days after his Jan. 1 admittance. (RELATED: Lloyd Austin Being Treated For Prostate Cancer)
The Pentagon chief apologized earlier this month for his failure to notify administration officials and admitted he “did not handle this right.”
“I want to be crystal clear: We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis,” Austin said during a Feb. 1 press conference. “I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”
The Defense Department's inspector general launched an investigation into the incident.