US Defense Secretary Treated for Prostate Cancer

The diagnosis of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was revealed after three days of controversy about the health of the US Defense Secretary, especially amid the tensions in the Middle East. 

Austin was hospitalized on January 1 for complications of medical procedures without informing the supreme authorities and media, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center revealed on Tuesday.

The medical institution said that Austin was transported to the intensive care unit. However, US President Joe Biden was the only one who was informed about Austin’s prostate cancer diagnosis on Tuesday.

After that, the Walter Reed doctors issued a public statement about Austin's health.

Members of Congress were surprised last week to learn from a public Pentagon statement that Austin had surgery and a medical procedure without informing them. Biden was informed of the hospitalization on Thursday.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed said, “This lack of disclosure must never happen again.”

Reed added: “He is taking responsibility for the situation, but this was a serious incident and there needs to be transparency and accountability from the Department."

The Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said “With wars in Ukraine and Israel, the idea that the White House and even your own Deputy did not understand the nature of your condition is patently unacceptable."