Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin apologises for concealing cancer hospitalisation

Austin’s secrecy surrounding his condition and his January 1 hospitalisation caught the White House and Congress off guard, and even Biden did not know Austin was hospitalised during much of the first week of January.

“I did not handle this right,” Austin said.

The incident triggered a political uproar. Republicans accused Austin of dereliction of duty. Biden, a Democrat, has said he has confidence in Austin despite what the president agreed was a lapse in judgment.

Austin said privacy and not secrecy was behind his decision not to tell the White House or public about the diagnosis earlier.

“It was a gut punch,” Austin said referring to his diagnosis.

US defence chief has prostate cancer – and Biden just found out

Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Maryland on December 22 to treat prostate cancer. He returned to the hospital on January 1 due to complications that included a urinary tract infection.

His hospitalisation was not disclosed until four days later, and the Pentagon did not specify why he was being treated until January 9.

Austin said he had never directed anyone in his staff to keep his January hospitalisation from the White House or the public.

Some prominent Republicans, including former US president Donald Trump, called for Austin to be removed from his job. Austin is a retired four-star general who led forces in Iraq and who is America’s first black defence secretary.