Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has been hospitalized since Jan. 1 due to complications from surgery to treat prostate cancer, according to a statement from his doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that was released by the Pentagon on Tuesday.
Austin is expected to make a full recovery from the complications — a seemingly severe urinary tract infection and buildup of abdominal fluid that prompted doctors to transfer Austin to Walter Reed’s intensive care unit. His doctors described his Dec. 22 surgery, called a prostatectomy, as intended to treat and cure his prostate cancer, which was first identified in early December.
But questions remained over the lack of transparency from Austin and the Pentagon on his condition, which the White House, Congress and many top military leaders weren’t informed of until days into hospitalization. Some lawmakers pushed for a public hearing on the issue, and others went so far as to call for Austin’s resignation.
