Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has remained hospitalized for nearly three weeks following a June 14 medical emergency, with his office saying the Kentucky Republican is improving but providing few details about his condition or when he may return to the Capitol.
McConnell's office said Thursday that the 84-year-old senator "continues to improve" and appreciates the support he has received while recovering, adding that he is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while lawmakers are away on a scheduled holiday recess.
The office has not disclosed what prompted McConnell's hospitalization, what treatment he is receiving, or whether he is expected to return when the Senate reconvenes July 13, according to reporting from The Associated Press and The New York Times.
When asked Monday for additional information, a McConnell spokesman referred reporters back to the previous statement, according to the Times.
NBC News reported that emergency-dispatch audio from June 14 showed responders being sent to an address associated with McConnell after a report of an unconscious person.
The Times reported that later radio traffic referenced "CPR in progress."
Neither report identified McConnell as the person receiving aid, and his office has not confirmed details of the emergency or commented on the recordings.
McConnell's office has declined to comment on the emergency communications despite reports from multiple news organizations.
The day after McConnell was hospitalized, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he had spoken with McConnell and described him as remaining engaged with Senate business.
"He's clearly dialed into what's going on," Thune told reporters at the Capitol, adding that McConnell was following developments in the Senate.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., also said he had spoken with McConnell following the hospitalization.
McConnell's absence comes as Senate Republicans operate with a narrow majority and could complicate efforts to advance legislation requiring near-unanimous support from the conference.
The Times reported that McConnell's absence contributed to the postponement of a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on several spending bills because Republicans need his vote to help overcome Democrat opposition.
McConnell, who stepped down as Senate Republican leader last year after becoming the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, has announced he will not seek reelection and plans to retire when his current term ends in January.
The hospitalization follows several health setbacks in recent years.
McConnell was hospitalized earlier this year after experiencing flu-like symptoms and suffered a concussion after a serious fall in 2023 that required hospitalization and rehabilitation, according to The Associated Press.
He also experienced additional falls, including a 2024 incident that resulted in a wrist injury.
McConnell had polio as a child and has long dealt with mobility issues, often using a wheelchair to travel between his Senate office and the Capitol, though the Times reported he was able to walk on his own in the days before his hospitalization.
The extended absence has renewed broader questions about transparency surrounding lawmakers' health while they remain in office.
The Times noted that several other lawmakers in recent years have faced scrutiny after prolonged absences or medical issues became public only after outside reporting.
McConnell's office has not indicated when he is expected to be discharged or return to the Senate.