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Veterans & National Security · Report · File No. 261113-830

Navy quietly fired submarine and destroyer leaders, Democrats say Congress was not told

The Navy removed a submarine's top leaders and a destroyer commander without its usual announcements, and House Democrats are pushing back. The dispute could shape next week's confirmation hearing for acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

By the National Desk · · 2 min read

Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

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Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney. Photo: Office of Congressman Joe Courtney, Public domain

The Navy has fired or removed several top officers in recent months without announcing it, which breaks its usual practice, and Congress is pushing back 1. Two House Democrats said Thursday that the Navy never told Congress it had fired the entire leadership team of a nuclear-powered attack submarine last month 1.

What the Navy did not announce

The Navy fired the commander, second in command and top enlisted sailor of the USS South Dakota submarine, according to a letter from the lawmakers 1. The letter says they were removed after the submarine ran into something on the seabed. The Navy would not comment publicly 1.

In a separate case, the Navy relieved Cmdr. Caitlin Cunningham on Sept. 27 as commander of the USS Michael Murphy, a destroyer deployed to support operations against Iran. A defense official said the reason was a loss of confidence. She had held the job less than a year 1.

Typically, the Navy would announce a firing like Cunningham's within days. It offered no public comment even when asked 1.

From Channel GOPCarbajal tells Hegseth to get out of the PentagonRep. Salud Carbajal · 297 plays · captioned, with the source named

Dr. Brian Monahan, a Navy rear admiral, has also left his post as attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court. He had held that job for nearly 18 years. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California confirmed his departure Thursday but gave few details 1. A person familiar with the matter said the Navy has opened an investigation 1.

What lawmakers say

Reps. Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Adam Smith of Washington wrote to acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Navy's top uniformed officer. They said they felt "deep frustration" that the House Armed Services Committee was not told about the South Dakota firings 1.

As a result of the Navy's failure to communicate, what should have been a standard exercise in information sharing has instead raised questions about the Navy's commitment to transparency and its commitment to a productive working relationship with Congress,
Joe Courtney and Adam Smith, U.S. Representatives, Democrats of Connecticut and Washington, in a joint letter to Navy leaders1

The Associated Press said all three cases break from the Navy's longstanding policy of announcing major removals of commanders and other highly visible officials 1.

Part of a wider pattern

The AP said the cases follow growing secrecy over military operations, especially in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command has released few details on recent limited strikes on Iran and has cited operational security in refusing to comment on damage 1.

Major satellite imagery companies with U.S. contracts have also blocked or delayed releasing images of the region at the request of American officials. As a result, it took months to learn that Iranian drone and missile strikes damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with U.S. equipment, according to an AP analysis 1.

What happens next

Cao is expected to face a confirmation hearing next week as he seeks the permanent job of Navy secretary, and the AP said the firings could make it contentious 1. Cao became acting secretary in April, when the Pentagon announced that Navy Secretary John Phelan was leaving effective immediately. It gave no reason 2.

That matters because Congress writes the Navy's budget and oversees its leaders. Lawmakers can't do that job if they learn of firings after the fact, and neither can the public, which includes the families of sailors and veterans. Neither the AP report nor the lawmakers' letter says why the Navy stopped announcing these changes 1.

The Record

  1. The Pentagon announces Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving; Undersecretary Hung Cao becomes acting secretary 2.
  2. The Navy relieves Cmdr. Caitlin Cunningham of the destroyer USS Michael Murphy over loss of confidence, without a public announcement 1.
  3. Reps. Courtney and Smith say the Navy did not tell Congress it fired the USS South Dakota's leadership team last month; Monahan's departure is confirmed 1.
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Sources

  1. PBS NewsHour / Associated Press, “Navy has quietly fired some commanders and other officials, drawing congressional pushback” (2026-11-13). pbs.org/newshour/politics/navy-has-quietly-fired-some-comman
  2. OPB / NPR, “The Pentagon says Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving” (2026-04-22). opb.org/article/2026/04/22/the-pentagon-says-navy-secretary-

Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.

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