US Navy Secretary John Phelan Departs Pentagon Post, Hung Cao Named Acting Secretary Wednesday

John Phelan, the US Navy Secretary, has left his post, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday, with his departure effective immediately. Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, announced that Hung Cao, the Navy Undersecretary, will now serve as acting secretary.

Phelan’s exit marks another senior military leader’s removal from the Trump administration. This change in leadership unfolds as the US-Israel war with Iran persists, alongside the sustained US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint.

Parnell conveyed gratitude for Phelan's service, without offering specific reasons for his departure. This follows recent dismissals of other senior military personnel, including Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Gen David Hodne, and Maj Gen William Green. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has overseen the removal of more than a dozen senior officers since taking office.

Phelan, a businessman and significant donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, assumed the Navy Secretary role in March 2025. He had no prior military experience. Last December, he appeared with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago when the President announced plans for a new series of heavily armed Navy “battleships,” which Phelan supported as part of a “Golden Fleet” initiative.

Andrew Peek, a former State Department official, suggested Phelan’s departure could be partly attributed to slow progress on expanding the US merchant and civilian fleet. He also posited that the replacement by Cao, who is well-regarded by the MAGA base, indicates a preference for someone more aligned with the President's trust and agenda.

Hung Cao, who became Undersecretary in October 2025, is a 25-year Navy veteran. He unsuccessfully campaigned for the US Senate in Virginia in 2024, receiving Trump's endorsement. During his campaign, Cao was critical of military diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, stating that the Navy required “alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds” to win wars.

This leadership shift in the Navy coincides with President Trump's declaration that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports will continue despite a ceasefire in the war. Clashes have persisted in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, with Iran reporting the seizure of two vessels. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the President is “satisfied” with the blockade, believing Iran is in a “very weak position.” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator, asserted on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be reopened due to “blatant violations of the ceasefire” by the US and Israel.