WASHINGTON (TND) — Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin transferred his duties on a temporary basis Monday to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks as he underwent surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Austin was sped to the military hospital Sunday afternoon after suffering symptoms "suggesting an emergent bladder issue." Following the scandalous cover-up of his last trip to Walter Reed at the outset of the new year, Austin reported his admittance to the hospital to military and Congressional leadership as well as President Joe Biden.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided an update on the secretary's condition at the Pentagon's press briefing Monday afternoon, sharing that he transferred the duties of his office to Hicks at 4:45 p.m. EST Sunday.

Hicks is expected to retain that temporary authority through Tuesday morning as Austin's doctors stated Monday that they anticipate him returning to regular duty that day. However, Austin will be canceling a trip to Brussels to meet his NATO counterparts later in the week due to the unexpected medical event.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent non-surgical procedures under general anesthesia to address his bladder issue," Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, said in a statement. "We anticipate a successful recovery and will closely monitor him overnight."

The doctors added that the bladder issue he suffered was not expected to impact his continued recovery from prostate cancer.