Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Resumes Duties After Hospital Procedure

He temporarily transfered his authority to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 8, 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underwent a medical procedure on Friday evening, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced.

Pentagon press secretary and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the elective and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to a previously identified bladder condition was successfully completed. The procedure lasted about 2.5 hours, according to an update from the Pentagon.