{"id":74740,"date":"2024-02-11T21:53:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-11T21:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/02\/11\/austin-back-in-the-hospital-with-emergent-bladder-issue\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:14:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:14:25","slug":"austin-back-in-the-hospital-with-emergent-bladder-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/home\/2024\/02\/11\/austin-back-in-the-hospital-with-emergent-bladder-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin back in the hospital with \u2018emergent bladder issue\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center<\/a> in Bethesda, Maryland, Sunday with symptoms of an \u201cemergent bladder issue,\u201d his spokesperson said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austin\u2019s security detail transported him to the hospital Sunday afternoon, according to the statement. This is Austin\u2019s second hospitalization for urinary tract issues this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office of the Secretary of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks,\u201d Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in the statement, more than two hours after he first left for Walter Reed. \u201cThe Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense, if required.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House, Congress and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have also been notified of Austin\u2019s condition, Ryder said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austin has been recovering from a severe urinary tract infection that developed following a procedure to treat prostate cancer late last year. He traveled by ambulance to Walter Reed on Jan. 1 and spent two weeks being treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\t