The Pentagon has announced that due to the illness of Mr. Austin’s chief of staff, Kelly E. Magsamen, there was a delay in making notifications until Thursday. Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, confirmed that Ms. Magsamen informed Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, about Mr. Austin’s hospitalization.
It remains unclear why another senior Pentagon aide did not make the notifications earlier in the week.
According to a statement from Walter Reed doctors, Mr. Austin’s health screenings last year revealed changes in the antigens used to detect prostate cancer. The doctors stated, “Changes in his laboratory evaluation in early December 2023 identified prostate cancer, which necessitated treatment.”
The statement further noted that Mr. Austin was admitted to Walter Reed on December 22, where he underwent a prostatectomy to treat and cure the prostate cancer.
Upon Mr. Austin’s return to the hospital on New Year’s Day, doctors diagnosed him with a urinary tract infection. On January 2, they decided to transfer him to the intensive care unit for closer monitoring and a higher level of care. The doctors also discovered collections of abdominal fluid that were impeding the function of his small intestines, which they subsequently drained.
Prostate cancer is a relatively common cancer among men and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men. However, the disease typically progresses slowly.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, expressed his hope that Mr. Austin would continue to serve, noting that prostate cancer is highly treatable. However, he also expressed regret over the delay in providing an explanation.
Reported by Karoun Demirjian and Peter Baker.
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