Defense Secretary Austin Hospitalized, Moved to Critical Care for Bladder Issues
• Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and moved to critical care on Sunday for a bladder issue, forcing him to cancel a trip to Brussels to discuss Ukraine • Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2022 and underwent surgery, but then suffered complications requiring hospitalization in early January • Austin did not initially disclose his cancer diagnosis or hospitalizations to top military leaders, Congress, or the White House, drawing criticism • Austin has apologized for not handling disclosure of his health issues properly, admitting he should have informed key stakeholders • Austin is facing questioning by Congress on his health issues and lack of transparency, including a formal investigation by the House Armed Services Committee