Mystery surrounds Navy’s secret purge of nuclear sub leaders and Capitol physician

Congress has accused the Navy of keeping it in the dark about the dismissal of an entire submarine leadership team following an underwater collision.“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,” Reps. Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Adam Smith of Washington wrote in a letter to Navy leaders.The two Democratic lawmakers said Thursday that the Navy failed to inform Congress it had fired the commander, second in command and top enlisted sailor of the USS South Dakota last month.The Navy has quietly removed several top officers recently, breaking from its usual practice of public announcements (AP)In the letter to acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and the Navy's top uniformed officer, Adm. Daryl Caudle, Courtney and Smith said they had “deep frustration” over the Navy's failure to notify the House Armed Services Committee about the firings. According to the letter, the three were removed after the nuclear-powered attack submarine ran into something on the seabed.The Navy would not comment publicly. The developments could set up a contentious confirmation hearing next week for Cao as he seeks to permanently take over as the top civilian official. The departures break with the Navy's longstanding policy of announcing major removals of commanders and other highly visible officials. They also follow growing secrecy over military operations, especially in the Middle East.Separately, the sea service in September fired the commander of a destroyer deployed to the Middle East, according to a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive personnel matters. The Navy relieved Cmdr. Caitlin Cunningham, commander of the USS Michael Murphy, on Sept. 27 due to a loss of confidence, the official said.The destroyer has been deployed to support operations against Iran. She had been in the job for less than a year. Typically, the Navy would announce the firing of someone like Cunningham within days. The service offered no public comment, even when asked.House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., left, speaks with Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn (AP)Dr. Brian Monahan, a Navy rear admiral and attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, also departed his post during a Navy investigation, with no public announcement or confirmation. On Thursday, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California confirmed Monahan's departure but provided few other details.The Navy has opened an investigation, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. For nearly 18 years, Monahan held the top job in the Office of the Attending Physician. The office provides emergency medical assistance to members of Congress and the Supreme Court, as well as congressional staff and visitors.Monahan was sometimes in the news for discussing matters such as Sen. Mitch McConnell's health and for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Restrictions on the military sharing information go beyond the Navy. U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has released few details on recent limited strikes on Iran.It has refused to comment on or specify damage to bases or equipment, usually citing operational security. Major satellite imagery providers with U.S. contracts have blocked or delayed public release of images in the region at the request of American officials. As a result, it took months to determine that Iranian drone and missile strikes damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with U.S. equipment in the region, according to an Associated Press analysis.