{"id":83183,"date":"2025-07-25T20:21:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T20:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/07\/25\/trumps-pick-for-cno-faces-few-hurdles-in-confirmation-hearing\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:02:08","slug":"trumps-pick-for-cno-faces-few-hurdles-in-confirmation-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/07\/25\/trumps-pick-for-cno-faces-few-hurdles-in-confirmation-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s pick for CNO faces few hurdles in confirmation hearing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s nominee for the next chief of naval operations faced no major opposition during his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adm. Daryl Caudle, who currently leads U.S. Fleet Forces Command, delivered prepared remarks and answered lawmakers\u2019 questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his opening statement, Caudle described the United States at an inflection point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur country and its citizens are in the midst of a crucial era, defined by global competition, technological saturation, and unpredictable threats that challenge our American dream,\u201d Caudle told lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump nominated Caudle to serve as chief of naval operations last month. If confirmed, Caudle would replace Adm. James Kilby, who has served as acting CNO after Trump dismissed Adm. Lisa Franchetti in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During questioning from lawmakers, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, raised concerns about the dry dock replacement at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a project that has gone over budget, now costing nearly $4.5 billion after an $834 million increase in 2024. She also criticized the project for being four months behind schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy awarded<\/a> a $2.8 billion contract in March 2023 to Dragados\/Hawaiian Dredging\/Orion JV to replace a dry dock that was built in 1942 and cannot service Virginia-class submarines or larger surface ships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caudle assured the senator that he would do his best to get the plan back on track and on schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herono also asked Caudle about his commitment to environmental remediation at Red Hill<\/a>, where a jet fuel leak from the Navy\u2019s bulk fuel storage facility contaminated a water well used by more than 90,000 residents, including service members and their families, living on Oahu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is currently suing the Navy for $1.2 billion to help complete cleanup and install safeguards against further contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., decried what he deemed the government\u2019s lack of accountability in defense programs, pointing to the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jack H. Lucas as an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vessel, Scott said, was commissioned in October 2023 but won\u2019t deploy until October 2028 because radar aboard the ship still needs testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scott questioned why the Navy would build a ship without testing the radar before commissioning it, and asked whether Caudle would hold military personnel, the civilian workforce and suppliers accountable when mistakes were made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caudle said he would address problems with timely deliveries and understood the issue, having witnessed struggles with holding military program managers accountable in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a very clear mechanism for operational commanders,\u201d Caudle said. \u201cIt\u2019s not so clear with program managers. These are complex programs, multibillion-dollar programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caudle has been an outspoken<\/a> critic of manning shortages and delayed ship availability, concerns that align with the Trump administration\u2019s intention<\/a> to overhaul the maritime industrial base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked how he would quantify success at the end of his potential tenure as CNO, Caudle listed several benchmarks: a growing ship count, on-pace deliveries, reduced gaps at sea, munition floor requirements met and improved training for sailors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy is on the precipice of its most important chapter in its 250-year history, Caudle said, citing the Navy\u2019s shrinking fleet size and diminished shipbuilding capacity as challenges that need to be tackled. He also highlighted China\u2019s rise as a naval adversary as a primary concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\t