US Defense Secretary Austin resumes duties after medical procedure

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has resumed his official duties following a medical procedure, the Pentagon announced in Washington on Friday.

Austin underwent a "successful, elective, and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his bladder issue," the Pentagon said.

He had temporarily handed over his official duties to his deputy Kathleen Hicks due to the procedure, the Pentagon said.

The surgery was not related to the 70-year-old's cancer diagnosis, it added. Austin had returned home and no changes to his official schedule were anticipated.

The White House and the US Congress had been informed about the procedure, the Pentagon said.

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.