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2w ago

Report Says Pentagon Calls Scrapped SEAL Command for Top Navy Captain as Hegseth’s Role Is Disputed

The cancellation came via informal phone calls, leaving the officer without a command under “up or out” rules.

Members of the Army cheer as President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, on June 10.
United States Marine Corps recruits from Lima Company crawl on their stomachs during an obstacle course during The Crucible, the final part of phase three of recruit training before officially becoming US Marines, at Camp Pendleton in 2021.
A senior US military leader listens as President Donald Trump speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico, on September 30.
A graduating Midshipmen holds her hat at the 2021 US Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony.

Overview

  • The unnamed captain was slated to be the first woman to lead a Naval Special Warfare command overseeing Navy SEALs, but the ceremony planned for July was canceled two weeks beforehand.
  • Multiple Naval Special Warfare sources and retired SEALs told CNN they believe Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drove the decision, though Pentagon officials dispute that and cite questions about the role or the fact the captain is not a SEAL.
  • Sources said the reversal was delivered through a series of Pentagon phone calls rather than formal paperwork, a move they viewed as avoiding a record.
  • The officer’s record includes ranking first in her promotion cohort, earning a Purple Heart for wounds in Iraq, and becoming the first woman to serve as a troop commander with SEAL Team Six.
  • The Pentagon told CNN that women are excited to serve under Hegseth’s leadership, while servicewomen and veterans voiced concern about retention, harassment, and the military’s culture under current policies.