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Lloyd Austin (February 24)

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP

Lloyd Austin's illness caused and continues to cause considerable excitement at the highest political levels in the USA.

The US Secretary of Defense is now back on duty.

Nevertheless, questions remain.

His ministry is now trying to de-escalate.

An internal Pentagon investigation into the hospitalization sees neither “evidence of malicious intent” nor an “attempt at concealment.”

However, the paper does not come without criticism.

"The process for decisions on the delegation of the minister's powers could and should be improved," said the part of the report published on Monday, which is not classified as secret.

Austin's team was confronted with an "unprecedented situation" during their hospital stay.

This led to a lack of information exchange.

"A classified version of the report has been provided to Congress," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

The department has developed additional guidelines to improve communication with the White House and the transfer of authority.

The 70-year-old defense minister was treated in hospital for a long period of time in January due to health problems following a prostate procedure.

He came under criticism because he initially kept both his cancer diagnosis and his hospital stay secret.

The White House was less than enthusiastic

US President Joe Biden was also not informed about Austin's hospitalization for several days.

He also only found out about his diagnosis of prostate cancer weeks later.

The White House criticized Austin for his information policy, but stood behind the minister.

It is common practice in the United States for the public to be very closely informed about the health of its top politicians.

The question also arose as to who actually has the authority in the Pentagon in the midst of international crises such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the tense situation in the Middle East if the minister is absent.

In February, Austin was again treated in the hospital for an acute bladder problem, but then communicated this directly.

He is now back at the Pentagon.

In addition to the now published internal investigation into the incident, an independent review by the ministry's Office of the Inspector General is also underway.

jok/dpa