U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reportedly been taken by his Secret Service detail to a hospital Sunday afternoon, the Pentagon confirms in a statement it released minutes ago, after he exhibited an "emergent bladder issue," according to an X post by a Fox News producer:

BREAKING: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is at Walter Reed for “emergent bladder issue” @PentagonPresSec said in a statement. The deputy defense secretary, joint chiefs of staff, White House and Congress have been notified. pic.twitter.com/U6MGXZ9ARN

— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) February 11, 2024

The Pentagon has now released a full statement, which can be read here:

Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. Full statement here:https://t.co/reDJBP33lr

— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) February 11, 2024

The statement, from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, reads:

Today, at approximately 2:20 pm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue. The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and Congressional notifications have occurred. 

 At this time, the Secretary is retaining the functions and duties of his office. The Deputy Secretary is prepared to assume the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense, if required. Secretary Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.

We will provide an update on Secretary Austin's condition as soon as possible.

This news comes after the Pentagon was mired in controversy recently over Austin appearing to ignore the basic chain of command protocols when he was rushed to the hospital then admitted for emergency surgery at New Year's.

READ: Biden Doubles Down: Austin Had Lapse in Judgment, but WH Has Not Lost Confidence in Him at Pentagon

UPDATED 2/11/24 9:40 PM EST: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin transfers powers to deputy after being hospitalized anew.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This piece was edited post-publication to remove an incorrect reference to the Pentagon as Foggy Bottom. We regret the error.)