Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin re-hospitalized for bladder issue

• Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to the hospital on Sunday afternoon for symptoms related to a possible bladder issue.
• Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has been in the hospital several times for surgery and other complications.
• Earlier this year, the Pentagon caused a stir in Washington by failing to inform top White House officials of Austin's hospitalizations.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken back to the hospital on Sunday afternoon for symptoms related to a possible bladder issue, the Pentagon announced.

Austin is battling prostate cancer and has been recovering from surgery over the past few months.

He is currently retaining all responsibilities of his post, the Pentagon said. On his way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Austin brought along all "unclassified and classified communication systems necessary to perform his duties," according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is on standby to assume any of Austin's functions, should that become necessary.

The Pentagon made clear that the White House and Congress have been notified of the Sunday hospitalization, avoiding a repeat of a December incident when Austin and his staff failed to inform top government officials that Austin was in the intensive care unit for complications related to his cancer surgery.

In January, Austin came under fire after the Pentagon waited days to inform the White House and the public that he was in the ICU for unknown reasons at the time. Doctors at Walter Reed later disclosed the prostate cancer diagnosis and released details of his hospital visits.

Still, several lawmakers called on Austin to resign for the lack of transparency, though the