Washington, DC [US], US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will undergo a scheduled, elective and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his bladder issue on Friday (local time), Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder announced. a statement. According to the statement, while Austin will be temporarily unable to perform his duties during the process, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks will assume the duties of Secretary of Defense and serve as Acting Secretary of Defense. In a Pentagon statement, Pat Ryder said, "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Osty III will undergo a scheduled, elective and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his previously reported bladder issue, which will later be performed at Walter Reed. Will be in the National Military Medical Centre." this evening."The Secretary has determined that he will be temporarily unable to perform his functions and duties during the process, so Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks will assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense and serve as Acting Secretary of Defense." According to the statement, Lloyd Austin's bladder issue is not related to his high cancer diagnosis and has had no impact on his excellent cancer prognosis. In th statement, Ryder said, "We will provide an update on Secretary Austin's condition. medical procedure. Earlier in February, Lloyd Austin was released from Walter He was admitted to Reed National Military Medical Center and was later discharged from the hospital after his condition improved.Trauma medical director Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnutt, director of the Prostate Disease Research Center at the Murtha Cancer Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, said in a statement, "Secretary Austin was scheduled to undergo prostate cancer surgery in December 2023. He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medica Center on February 11 due to discomfort and anxiety related to bladder problems. His condition indicated the need for close monitoring by critical care and supportive care. His clinical evaluation identified the cause of the high bladder problem and it was corrected with non-surgical procedures on February 12," the doctors said, adding that Lloyd Austin remained in "good condition" throughout, according to the statement. ' and no longer requires critical care monitoring. Morning of 13th February. The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Austin was discharged from Walter Reed National Medical Center on February 13.