Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Committee, issued the following statement after Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned his post.

“Thomas Modly’s resignation as Acting Navy Secretary was the right thing to do. However, the problem of lackluster leadership from the Navy, the DOD, and the Trump Administration remains a grave concern. Trying to gag whistleblowers and keep the public in the dark about the extent of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on our brave servicemembers – whether they’re serving aboard an aircraft carrier, a mercy ship, abroad, or on a base in the United States – is beyond negligent, it’s criminally obtuse,” Chair Speier said. “Modly’s resignation also doesn’t undo the damage wrought by his mismanagement of the COVID-19 outbreak on board the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt in the first place and which left morale badly shaken and undermined our troop readiness at a time when we can ill afford such violations of trust. Transparency, honesty, and compassion must be adopted if the DOD and the Administration hope to repair this gaping wound. And the Department and President must do everything in their power to ensure that our servicemembers are getting the care, supplies, and resources they need.”

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