White House Issues New Rules for Cabinet Members on Delegating Authority During Medical Procedures
• White House establishes new guidelines for Cabinet members to notify administration when delegating authority due to hospitalization or medical procedures
• Comes after revelations that Pentagon did not promptly notify White House of Defense Secretary Austin's hospitalization for prostate cancer surgery
• New rules require notifying White House offices when anticipating delegation of authority, documenting delegation in writing, and acting authority contacting White House counterpart
• Austin recently had follow-up appointment at Walter Reed following prostatectomy; doctors say he continues to recover well and prognosis is excellent
• Austin expected to return to the Pentagon on Monday after working from home since mid-January following surgery and infection recovery