Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is discharged from hospital

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released Monday from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following complications he suffered after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer, a Pentagon statement said.

"The Secretary continues to recover well and, on the advice of doctors, will recuperate and perform his duties remotely for a period of time before returning full-time to the Pentagon," the statement said. "He has full access to required secure communications capabilities."

Austin's hospitalization on New Year's Day became controversial after it emerged that no one — including the president — knew for several days that he was in hospital, had undergone surgery for prostate cancer, or that he had complications from the procedure.

Austin progressed well throughout his stay and his strength is rebounding, said Dr. John Maddox, trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research at Walter Reed's Murtha Cancer Center.