Secrecy over Austin's hospital stay puts White House on back foot

WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden's administration pledged from day one to restore truth and transparency to the federal government — but now it's facing a maelstrom of criticism and credibility questions after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization was kept secret for days, even from the White House.

The Pentagon disclosed on Tuesday afternoon, after days of silence on Austin's medical diagnosis, that the secretary has prostate cancer. Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec 22 and underwent surgery to treat the disease, but developed a urinary tract infection a week later and was admitted into intensive care.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a routine screening in early December, but the White House insisted that no one there, including Biden, knew about the diagnosis until Tuesday.