Official duties will be transferred to Deputy Attorney General Monaco.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, who is 71, is scheduled to undergo a “minimally invasive” back surgery this coming weekend. He stated that official duties will temporarily transfer to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during his absence.
The attorney general suffers from spinal stenosis and will have an interlaminar decompression procedure to alleviate persistent lower back pain. He is expected to be discharged 1 to 4 days following the surgery and will need about 4 to 6 weeks to reach the mobility and function levels expected.
“The delegation of his duties will go to the Deputy Attorney General shortly before the procedure, during the procedure, and for a brief period following the procedure to allow for recovery from general anesthesia,” Attorney General Garland’s office stated. He is expected to return home the same day and resume work next week.
The White House recently issued guidelines to all Cabinet and other federal officials regarding absences following the undisclosed hospitalization of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the medical team and surgeons who will perform the attorney general’s back procedure.
- For healing for Attorney General Garland’s back condition.
- For wisdom for the deputy attorney general as she heads the DOJ during the surgery.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, NBC News
