The acting secretary of the Navy fired Captain Brett Crozier over his letter begging his Navy superiors to take action to stop the spread of COVID-19 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, but Crozier has plenty of support from elsewhere. At the top of the list of Crozier’s supporters: the sailors who were under his command until his firing.
As Crozier left the ship, a crowd of sailors gathered to cheer him, with some chanting his name, and one saying “That’s how you send out one of the greatest captains you ever had.” But while that may be the most moving display of support for Crozier, and one that speaks loudly to the concern he showed for the people he was responsible for, it’s not the end of the story. His firing is drawing concern in Congress, with a statement from the leadership of the House Armed Services Committee questioning the move.
“Throwing the commanding officer overboard without a thorough investigation is not going to solve the growing crisis aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt,” they wrote. “What’s more, we are very concerned about the chilling effect this dismissal will have on commanders throughout the Department of Defense. Dismissing a commanding officer for speaking out on issues critical to the safety of those under their command discourages others from raising similar concerns.”
Additionally, they questioned Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s leadership in the coronavirus crisis, writing that “We are also concerned about the lack of guidance from Department of Defense leadership. Secretary Esper continues to say that commanders and non-commissioned officers should be calling the shots, forcing them to make decisions on matters outside of their expertise while under immense pressure.”
In fact, Crozier’s firing was in line with one earlier piece of guidance from Esper, who last month warned commanders to stay on message.