Adam R. Telle, the Acting Secretary of the Army, right, and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, attend an event to mark Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington (AP Photo)
The lawmakers said the three officers were removed after the submarine struck an unidentified object on the seabed. The US Navy has quietly removed or fired several senior officers and officials in recent months without its customary public announcements, drawing criticism from lawmakers over a lack of transparency and failure to inform Congress about key personnel changes. However, the Navy declined to publicly comment on the incident or the subsequent personnel action.
Monahan served for nearly 18 years as the head of the Office of the Attending Physician, which provides emergency medical assistance to members of Congress and the Supreme Court, as well as congressional staff and visitors. Because they were not authorised to discuss it, the Navy has opened an investigation into the matter, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Navy’s handling of the recent personnel changes could also become an issue during next week’s confirmation hearing for Hung Cao, who is seeking permanent appointment as the service’s top civilian official.
Separately, the Navy also dismissed the commander of a destroyer deployed to the Middle East in September, while its attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court departed amid an internal investigation. Navy physician departs amid investigation The departure of Rear Adm. Dr Brian Monahan, who served as the attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, has also drawn attention.
Two Democratic lawmakers on Thursday accused the Navy of withholding information about the removal of the entire leadership team of a nuclear-powered attack submarine following an underwater collision last month.