John Phelan out as U.S. Navy secretary

John Phelan is "departing" as U.S. https://www.axios.com/2025/08/27/navy-rapid-capabilities-phelan-memo" target="_blank">Navy secretary, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Why it matters: The announcement caught many off-guard, and casts Phelan into the growing pile of military officials that either abruptly exited or were https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/military-officials-ousted-retired-trump-hegseth" target="_blank">pushed out of their posts under https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump 2.0.

Driving the news: Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately," in a https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2047064432564482188" target="_blank">post on X.

• Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will take over in an acting capacity.

What they're saying: "Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss.

His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given," a person familiar with the situation told Axios.

• "He didn't get along" with Defense Secretary https://www.axios.com/2026/03/15/trump-hegseth-iran-war-no-quarter" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth, they added.
• Phelan had a good relationship with President Trump, another person said.

The intrigue: Phelan sat down with a dozen or so reporters Tuesday afternoon to discuss the future of the sea service and its major investments, including the Golden Fleet and its https://www.axios.com/2026/01/07/trump-battleship-navy-shipbuidling-slcmn" target="_blank">battleship and frigate.

Catch up quick: Phelan, a longtime financier, was confirmed by the Senate about a year ago.

Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/hegseth-george-hodne-army-fired-iran" target="_blank">Hegseth's wartime firing of top generals stuns officials: "It's insane"