US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is temporarily handing over his official duties to his deputy Kathleen Hicks due to a medical procedure, the Pentagon announced in Washington on Friday.
According to the information provided, this is "a scheduled, elective, and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his previously reported bladder issue." It has nothing to do with the 70-year-old minister's cancer diagnosis, it added.
The White House and the US Congress have been informed about the procedure, the statement said. The ministry will provide further information after the procedure.
In the United States, it is customary for the public to be kept very closely informed about the state of health of their top politicians.
Austin was criticized at the beginning of the year for keeping a prostate cancer illness and a hospital stay due to complications during an operation secret. Even US President Joe Biden did not know for several days that his minister was in hospital.
The Pentagon subsequently launched internal investigations to ensure responsibilities and notification chains in the event of the minister's illness.
Since the incident, the ministry has provided very close updates on Austin's state of health. In mid-February, he handed over his official duties to Hicks for a short time due to a bladder problem.