Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Sunday afternoon for an emergency bladder issue,” according to Pentagon officials.
At roughly 2:30 p.m., Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be “seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement Sunday evening.
The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified, Ryder said, adding that the White House and Congress has also been informed.
Sean Gallup
“At this time, the Secretary is retaining the functions and duties of his office,” Ryder said. “The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense if required. Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.”
Pentagon officials said they will provide an update on Austin’s condition “as soon as possible.”.
Newsweek reached out via email on Sunday night to the Department of Defense for an update on Austin’s condition and comment.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.