Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was discharged from the hospital on Monday, following a two-week stay for post-surgery complications related to his prostate cancer. The surgery and diagnosis had been kept private by Austin for several weeks, even from top officials and staff in the Biden administration.

Austin will be telecommuting while he recuperates, and his physicians reported that he made good progress during his time in the hospital and his physical capabilities are improving. In a statement, they mentioned that the cancer was caught early and his outlook is very positive.

In a statement, Austin expressed gratitude to the medical personnel and stated that he is looking forward to making a full recovery and returning to the Pentagon as soon as possible, while continuing to fulfill his duties from home.

Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening. He developed an infection a week later and was hospitalized Jan. 1 and admitted to intensive care.

According to Dr. John Maddox, the trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, the director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research at Walter Reed, Austin received medical tests and treatment for ongoing leg pain while in the hospital. They stated that he still has physical therapy to complete, but there are no additional plans for cancer treatment besides routine check-ups.

The news of Austin’s hospitalization was not brought to the attention of President Joe Biden and other high-ranking officials until Jan. 4. Additionally, Austin chose to keep his cancer diagnosis private until Jan. 9. Although Biden acknowledges that Austin’s decision to withhold this information was a mistake, he maintains his trust in the Defense Secretary.

While Austin was at Walter Reed, the United States conducted a series of military attacks at the end of last week against the Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen. These strikes targeted numerous locations connected to their ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Despite being in the hospital, Austin managed to handle phone calls with top military officials, such as Gen. Erik Kurilla from U.S. Central Command, and attend meetings at the White House to evaluate, give orders, and ultimately observe the strikes via secure video.

The unclear communication regarding Austin’s hospitalization has prompted investigations by the administration and the Defense Department into the protocols for informing the White House and others if a Cabinet member needs to delegate decision-making responsibilities to a deputy, as Austin did during his first surgery and part of his most recent hospitalization. The White House chief of staff also instructed Cabinet members to inform his office if they are unable to fulfill their duties.

There has been backlash from members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, towards Austin’s lack of transparency. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama and chair of the House Armed Services Committee, has initiated an official investigation. Some have even demanded Austin’s resignation, but the White House has stated that his position as Secretary of Defense is not in jeopardy.

It is still unclear when Austin will return to his office in the Pentagon or how his cancer treatment will affect his job, travel and other public engagements going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has been taking on some of his day-to-day duties as he recovers.

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Stay updated on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with the AP’s reporting at https://apnews.com/hub/lloyd-austin.