John Phelan, the civilian secretary of the Navy, is leaving his post effective immediately, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, marking another abrupt departure from the top ranks of the Defense Department under new leadership.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Phelan's exit in a statement posted to social media. Hung Cao, the Navy undersecretary, will assume the role as acting secretary.
The ouster follows escalating friction between Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to people familiar with internal Pentagon dynamics, Hegseth had grown frustrated with Phelan's handling of a confrontation involving Senator Mark Kelly, who appeared in a video encouraging troops to disregard unlawful orders. Hegseth expected a more aggressive response from the Navy secretary, these sources indicated.
Phelan also faced pushback from Stephen Feinberg, Hegseth's deputy, over his management of shipbuilding initiatives, according to reporting from the New York Times and CNN.
The timing of the departure caught many off guard. Just a day earlier, Phelan had addressed a large gathering of sailors and defense industry officials at the Navy's annual conference in Washington and outlined his priorities to reporters.
Phelan's removal represents the latest in a series of high-profile dismissals by Hegseth since taking office. The Defense Secretary fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George just days ago and has removed numerous senior officers and defense officials in recent weeks. The Pentagon has not provided public explanations for most of these departures.
The instability at the top comes as the Navy maintains a blockade of Iranian ports and pursues shipping linked to Tehran amid a fragile ceasefire in the broader conflict.
Phelan brought limited military experience to the role. A major donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, he founded Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm. His connection to defense matters stemmed primarily from an advisory position with Spirit of America, a nonprofit focused on supporting Ukraine and Taiwan.
Cao, who will take over as acting secretary, is a 25-year Navy veteran with combat experience. He fled Vietnam as a child in the 1970s and mounted an unsuccessful Senate campaign in Virginia in 2024 with Trump's backing, challenging Democratic Senator Tim Kaine in a crowded Republican primary.
Author James Rodriguez: "The revolving door at the Pentagon is moving faster than usual, and the lack of transparency about why these leaders are getting the boot raises real questions about the direction of military leadership."
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