The Navy is upholding the decision to fire Capt. Brett Crozier, who was canned for taking issue with the coronavirus outbreak on his ship, according to a report Friday.
The move is an about-face for the Navy, which recommended in April that Crozier be reinstated.
Politico first reported the Navy’s latest findings, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Crozier was fired in March after begging Navy brass to quarantine his entire 5,000-member crew on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in an effort to contain the spread. At the time, more than 100 sailors had tested positive for COVID-19, though that number ballooned to at least 840 the next month.
The veteran captain was dismissed by Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly who, in a leaked speech, ripped the Crozier’s leadership and called him “too naive or too stupid” to be in command.
The official reason for Crozier’s ouster was reportedly loss of trust and confidence.
