Lloyd Austin
Internal investigation follows: US Secretary of Defense withheld cancer for weeks
Watch the video: US Secretary of Defense Austin suffers from prostate cancer.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made his prostate cancer public on Tuesday, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday. The 70-year-old has been being treated in a hospital since New Year’s Day. The US government initially did not provide any information about the reasons for the hospital visit, which led to speculation and ultimately became a political issue. However, US President Joe Biden wants to stick with Lloyd Austin as Defense Secretary regardless of the hospital affair. A spokesman for the President’s Office announced that Biden also only found out about Austin’s cancer diagnosis on Tuesday. The days of uncertainty triggered criticism primarily from the opposition Republicans. There were calls from their ranks for the Pentagon chief to resign or be fired.
It was only after two hospital stays that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made the diagnosis of prostate cancer public a few days ago. The approach is unusual and also caused criticism in the White House. An internal investigation will examine the facts.
The fact that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remained silent for weeks about his prostate cancer disease is prompting an internal ministry investigation. A Pentagon letter distributed Thursday said Inspector General Robert Storch would review “the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions” related to the secretary’s two hospitalizations in December and January.
The White House announced the day before that President Joe Biden had not been informed about his defense secretary’s cancer for about a month. This was “not optimal,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. It should be ensured “that something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Inspector General Storch, who is now responsible for investigating the incident, acts independently of the management levels of the ministry. According to his department’s self-description, his task is to investigate possible grievances and abuses in the ministry and to promote behavior in accordance with ethical principles.
Lloyd Austin was diagnosed with cancer in December
Austin was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of December and underwent surgery on December 22nd. On New Year’s Day, the minister was readmitted to Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington due to complications.
It was only on January 5th that the Pentagon published a statement in which it reported that the minister had been hospitalized. The reason for the treatment was not mentioned, it only mentioned “complications following a recent medical procedure”. It wasn’t until four days later, on Tuesday, that the ministry announced that Austin was being treated for prostate cancer.
Accordingly, the 70-year-old’s cancer was discovered in its early stages and the prospects for recovery were “excellent”. However, the Pentagon’s weeks-long silence about the minister’s illness is causing a great stir in Washington – especially since Austin fell ill at a time of great security policy challenges, particularly as a result of the Gaza War and the Ukraine War.
Strong criticism of Austin came not only from the opposition Republicans, but also from the ranks of Biden’s Democrats. However, Security Council spokesman Kirby said Wednesday that the president continued to have “full confidence” in Austin and looked forward to his return to the Pentagon.
Austin is making progress and “a full recovery” is expected, the treating clinic said. The infection has now subsided. But this could be a long process.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States after nonmelanoma skin cancer. In the early stages, the chances of recovery are generally good. The prostate (prostate gland) is an organ the size of a walnut that surrounds the base of the urethra in men.