Acting US Navy Secretary Resigns After Coronavirus Carrier Controversy

The US Navy's Acting Secretary has resigned after coming under fire for his handling of a coronavirus outbreak on board USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Thomas Modly fired the ship's commander, Captain Brett Crozier, last week after a letter he sent to Navy leaders calling for help on board his coronavirus-stricken ship was leaked. 

Mr Modly said the email had shown "extremely poor judgement".

Mr Modly later flew to Guam to visit the docked aircraft carrier where, in address to the ship's crew, said Capt Crozier was either "too naive or too stupid" to be in charge of the ship.

On Monday night, he was then forced to issue a public apology for his comments, at the insistence of US Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Calls for Mr Modly's resignation then followed.

House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said: “Sadly, Acting Secretary Modly’s actions and words demonstrate his failure to prioritise the force protection of our troops.

“He showed a serious lack of the sound judgment and strong leadership needed during this time. Acting secretary Modly must be removed from his position or resign.”

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Mr Modly had fired Capt Crozier against the advice of Navy military leaders.

“The new leadership of the navy must do better in leading and protecting sailors, marines and their families in this unprecedented crisis,” he said.

Mr Modly will now be replaced by James McPherson, a Navy veteran currently serving as Undersecretary of the US Army. 

As of Tuesday, the US Navy said 79% of the Roosevelt crew had been tested for coronavirus, and 230 of them were positive. 

Around 2,000 of the 4,865 crew members have been taken off the ship.

Cover image: Thomas Modly during a Pentagon press briefing last week (Picture: US Department of Defense).