Defense Secretary Austin's Prostate Cancer Prognosis 'Excellent', Expected to Return to Pentagon Monday

Austin's secret hospitalization prompts White House to set new guidelines for Cabinet notifications, while Austin continues to oversee national security issues during recovery.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's prostate cancer prognosis is excellent, and no further treatments are needed, according to his doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Austin is expected to return to work at the Pentagon on Monday after nearly a month away due to complications from a prostatectomy.
Austin's hospitalization and the secrecy surrounding it raised questions about transparency and communication within the Biden administration, prompting both an internal Pentagon review and an Inspector General review into its notification procedures.
The White House has set new guidelines for Cabinet notifications to ensure it will be informed any time a Cabinet head can't carry out their job due to medical issues, travel or other reasons.
During Austin's hospitalization and subsequent recovery at home, he had full access to secure communications capabilities and was able to oversee a number of national security issues.