White House formally announces Trump’s Navy secretary nominee

President Trump will nominate U.S. Ambassador to Norway Kenneth Braithwaite to be Navy secretary, the White House formally announced Friday.

The announcement is the first public sign of movement on the nomination since Trump tweeted in November he would tap Braithwaite to lead the Navy following the ouster of former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.

Spencer was fired amid the fallout from Trump’s decision to restore the rank of Navy Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher, who was convicted in the military justice system of posing with the corpse of an ISIS fighter but acquitted of murder.

In addition to restoring Gallagher’s rank, Trump ordered the Navy to allow Gallagher to keep his status as a SEAL after news broke the Navy was reviewing his Trident pin.

Spencer has said he opposed Trump’s decisions, but the Pentagon has said he was fired for trying to work out a deal with Trump behind Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s back that would have allowed Gallagher to keep his Trident.

Hours after Spencer was fired, Trump tweeted his choice of Braithwaite as replacement.

“Admiral and now Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite will be nominated by me to be the new Secretary of the Navy. A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!” Trump tweeted in November.

The White House announcement Friday described Braithwaite as a “distinguished 27-year veteran of the United States Navy and United States Navy Reserve.”  

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.), whose panel will be the gatekeeper in the confirmation process, has indicated he’s inclined to support Braithwaite.

“I think he’s a good choice, and I wouldn’t criticize the president for that choice, but it’s not that far along yet,” Inhofe told reporters Monday, adding he had not talked to the White House about when Braithwaite’s paperwork will be officially sent to the Senate.

Thomas Modly, who was the under secretary of the Navy, has served as acting Navy secretary since Spencer’s firing.

In addition to the Navy secretary, the Pentagon has been beset by other vacancies, turnover and firings in recent months. Most recently, the Pentagon’s policy chief, John Rood, resigned at Trump’s request earlier this month.