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Navy Secretary John Phelan Fired

Navy Secretary John Phelan Fired

John Phelan’s departure marks the second major leadership change at the Pentagon since the start of the Iran war, underscoring the administration’s anxiety over its ambitious naval vision.

Sources indicate that Phelan had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the timeline for delivering a new class of battleships by 2028.

Hung Cao, a former refugee and partisan firebrand, has been named as the new acting Navy secretary.

The firing has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats, who have questioned the stability of the military’s civilian leadership during an active conflict.

John Phelan U.S. Navy, Public domain
John Phelan
American businessman (born 1964)
Pete Hegseth
United States Secretary of War
Donald Trump
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Hung Cao
American politician and Navy veteran (born 1971)
United States Navy
Maritime branch of the United States military