Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is stripped of his duties after being hospitalized for 'emergent bladder issues' after prostate cancer surgery last month --Lloyd Austin, 70, has had his duties stripped and transferred to Kathleen Hicks | 11 Feb 2024 | Lloyd Austin has had his duties stripped and transferred to deputy Kathleen Hicks after he was hospitalized for "symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue." The defense secretary, 70, was transported to Walter Reed Medical center after the symptoms emerged Sunday afternoon. It comes after he faced intense backlash for failing to immediately inform Joe Biden of his surgery to treat prostate cancer last month.