US defence chief Lloyd Austin released from hospital

Washington - United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has been released from Walter Reed Hospital, he said on Jan 15, after

initially concealing his stay there

from both the White House and Congress.

Mr Austin kept US President Joe Biden and lawmakers in the dark about being diagnosed with prostate cancer for weeks, and did not inform them for days about his hospitalisation on Jan 1 for complications from his treatment.

While the situation has been a headache for Mr Biden, putting him on the defence and providing an opening for Republican attacks in an election year, the president has resisted calls for Mr Austin to leave office.

“I’m grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and want to thank the outstanding doctors and nursing staff for their professionalism and superb support,” Mr Austin said in a statement.

“As I continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home, I’m eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon,” he said.

Mr Austin, a 70-year-old career soldier, underwent minor surgery to treat the cancer on Dec 22, returning home the following day.

But he was re-admitted due to complications including nausea and severe pain on Jan 1.

The White House was not informed about Mr Austin’s hospitalisation until Jan 4, while Congress was not told until the following day, and

Mr Biden did not learn of the cancer diagnosis until Jan 9.

In response, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients ordered an urgent review of the rules for when senior US officials are incapacitated, as did Mr Austin’s chief of staff Kelly Magsamen.

The Pentagon’s independent inspector general also announced a review “to examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the secretary of defence’s hospitalisation” in both December and January. AFP