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In a good mood: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
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Yulia Nikhinson / AFP
About a month after a medical procedure that was initially kept secret from the President and Congress, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has returned to work at the Pentagon. He returned there today, the ministry said on Monday.
The minister has “performed his duties from home since his discharge from Walter Reed Military Hospital on January 15, 2024.” A meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for bilateral discussions was scheduled for Monday.
The 70-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After a minor operation on December 22nd, he initially returned home. He was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital on January 1 due to complications. However, the White House was not informed of this until January 4th and Congress a day later. US President Biden only found out about the cancer diagnosis on January 9th.
After a follow-up examination on Friday, two doctors said, according to the Pentagon, that the cancer had been "treated early and effectively." Austin's prognosis is "excellent."
A lot of criticism for Austin
Republican lawmakers have called for the Pentagon chief to be fired. The Democrat Biden criticized a lack of communication, but said he continued to have confidence in his defense secretary.
Due to the events, the Pentagon announced an internal investigation. The inspector responsible for monitoring processes should review the measures taken by Austin in connection with the hospital admission. For example, it must be clarified whether the ministry's guidelines are sufficient to ensure that in the event of illness, responsibilities are clarified and notification chains work. The White House also ordered that the procedures for such cases be reviewed.
sol/AFP