Senate confirms new naval leader after Dan Sullivan holdup over Alaska base

The Senate voted on Thursday night to confirm Adm. Daryl Caudle as the chief of naval operations after a brief delay from Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

When Caudle takes the helm, he will be the first Senate-confirmed chief of naval operations since President Donald Trump fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti in February without explanation. Adm. James Kilby, the vice chief of naval operations, has been in the role in an acting capacity since Franchetti’s dismissal.

Sullivan briefly held up Caudle’s nomination to pressure the Navy into reopening the Adak naval base, which is located in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska’s coast, Politico reported. He is a strong advocate of reopening the base.

After a conversation with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the senator ultimately withdrew his hold,

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