US defense chief released from hospital: Pentagon

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was receiving treatment for prostate cancer, was released from the hospital on Monday, the Pentagon said.

"Following consultation with medical staff, Secretary Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today," the Defense Department said in a statement.

Austin, whose secretive hospital stay prompted criticism, continues to recover well and "on the advice of doctors, will recuperate and perform his duties remotely for a period of time before returning full-time to the Pentagon," it said.

His doctors said Austin progressed well during his hospital stay and is expected to make a full recovery.

"Secretary Austin's prostate cancer was treated early and effectively and his prognosis is excellent," said his doctors.

The defense chief does not have any other planned treatment for his cancer other than regular post-prostatectomy surveillance, the statement said.

Austin was admitted to the hospital in Maryland on Dec. 22, and underwent a surgical procedure called a prostatectomy, the Pentagon said last week. He was released the following day and worked from home during the holidays but was readmitted to Water Reed after experiencing "severe pain" on Jan. 1.

The White House said it was not informed that Austin was hospitalized until the afternoon of Jan. 4.

Austin and the Pentagon have faced increasing scrutiny for his secretive hospitalization, which even the White House was unaware of until the third day after his stay.