The statement from Ryder, a major general, indicated that Austin “was retaining the functions and duties of his office.”
Austin was recently hospitalized at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Maryland, for complications from surgery he underwent in December for prostate cancer.
At issue at the time was that Austin didn’t immediately notify anyone that he was hospitalized, and even the White House was not aware of where Austin was for at least a few days. The notifications specified in Ryder’s statement were meant to address those issues.
He was released from the hospital Jan. 15. It is not known how long he might be in the hospital this time.
