Austin, 70, was retaining his duties during his hospitalisation, Pentagon press secretary major general Pat Ryder said in a written statement.

Austin was criticised last month for failing to disclose a cancer diagnosis and subsequent hospitalisations in December and January, including to President Joe Biden. He apologised during a televised news briefing.

He is scheduled to testify before Congress on Feb 29 about the situation.

The incident triggered a political uproar. Some prominent Republicans, including former president Donald Trump, called for Austin to be removed from his job. Austin is a retired four-star general who led forces in Iraq and is America’s first Black defence secretary.

Biden, a Democrat, has said he has confidence in Austin despite what the president agreed was a lapse in judgment.