Defense Secretary Acknowledges Hospitalization Not Handled ‘Right’

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized for not correctly handling the situation surrounding his hospitalization.

“I want to be crystal clear: we did not handle this right. I did not handle this right,” Austin said during a press conference. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should’ve also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

“I want to make it very clear that there were no gaps in authorities, and no risk to the department’s command and control. At every moment, either I or the deputy secretary was in full charge,” he continued.

Austin explained that since the incident, the department has created new procedures to ensure “lapses in notification don’t happen.”

.@SecDef Austin on his recent cancer diagnosis and transparency: “We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis, and I should have also told my team and the American public. I take full responsibility.” pic.twitter.com/rt3WjjjJdl

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 1, 2024

Doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center released a statement last month revealing that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was treated for prostate cancer.

“As part of Secretary Austin’s routinely recommended health screening, he has undergone regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) surveillance,” the doctors said. “Changes in his laboratory evaluation in early December 2023 identified prostate cancer which required treatment.”

“On January 1st, 2024, Secretary Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with complications from the December 22 procedure, including nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain,” they added. “Initial evaluation revealed a urinary tract infection. On January 2, the decision was made to transfer him to the ICU for close monitoring and a higher level of care.”

“During this stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness and never underwent general anesthesia,” they said. “Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer among American men, and it impacts 1 in every 8 men – and 1 in every 6 African American men – during their lifetime. Despite the frequency of prostate cancer, discussions about screening, treatment, and support are often deeply personal and private ones.”