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Navy has quietly fired some commanders and other officials, drawing congressional pushback
The Navy has removed several senior officers and officials in recent months without its usual public announcements, prompting lawmakers to accuse it of failing to keep Congress informed. The departures come amid greater secrecy around military activity in the Middle East and could intensify scrutiny at acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao’s confirmation hearing next week.
The Navy dismissed the USS South Dakota submarine’s commander, second in command and top enlisted sailor after the vessel struck something on the seabed last month; two House Democrats said Congress was not notified. In September, it also relieved USS Michael Murphy commander Caitlin Cunningham, who had been deployed to support operations against Iran, citing a loss of confidence. Rear Adm. Brian Monahan, Congress and the Supreme Court’s attending physician for nearly 18 years, also left his post during a Navy investigation.
In short
- Navy dismissals were not publicly announced as usual.
- House Democrats say Congress was not informed about submarine leaders.
- Other departures include a destroyer commander and Congress’s attending physician.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Navy may have sound operational or personnel reasons to remove commanders, and limiting public announcements can protect sensitive investigations, crew privacy and details of military activity. On this view, the removals themselves are within the service’s responsibility, and public disclosure should be weighed against security and due process.
The case against
Congress has a legitimate oversight role, especially when senior officers are removed in circumstances involving a submarine incident or deployments related to Iran. Even if some details must remain classified, failing to notify lawmakers can weaken accountability, impede their scrutiny of Navy leadership and erode confidence in the service’s decisions.
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