Washington, DC – Attorney General Merrick Garland is scheduled to undergo back surgery this weekend, prompting the Justice Department to announce that he will temporarily delegate his duties to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during the procedure. The 71-year-old Garland will be placed under general anesthesia for the approximately 90-minute minimally invasive surgery on Saturday, according to Xochitl Hinojosa, the Director of Public Affairs at the Justice Department. Garland is expected to return home the same day and resume his responsibilities at the Department the week of Feb. 5.
In a separate development, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has resumed his duties at the Pentagon after a period of hospitalization related to prostate cancer. Austin underwent surgery for the cancer on Dec. 22 and initially returned to work before being readmitted to intensive care due to extreme pain. The handling of the information surrounding Austin’s health, including the delay in informing the White House and his deputy about his cancer, surgery, and subsequent hospitalization, has drawn criticism.
