The Department of Defense confirmed that Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the administration, effective immediately, according to a Pentagon statement that did not supply further details.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell offered remarks expressing gratitude for Phelan's tenure, saying,
"On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors."
Deputy civilian leader of the Navy, Undersecretary Hung Cao, will assume the role of acting Navy secretary, the Pentagon said.
The departure follows an earlier personnel change on April 2, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George without providing a publicly stated reason. Two U.S. officials indicated that the firing of the Army chief of staff was linked to tensions between Hegseth and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.
Officials characterized Phelan's removal as part of a broader pattern of high-level turnover at the Pentagon. Recent departures cited include the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and the Air Force vice chief of staff, all dismissed in the past year.
The latest personnel change comes while the United States is conducting a tense ceasefire with Iran. The Pentagon has been directing more naval assets into the Middle East as part of U.S. military operations in the region. According to the Pentagon's public statements, naval forces are being used to carry out a blockade of Iran that the administration hopes will increase pressure on Tehran to negotiate an end to the conflict on U.S. terms.
The Pentagon did not provide additional comment on the rationale for Phelan's immediate departure or on any internal deliberations that led to the change in leadership.
Summary of developments
- John Phelan has been removed as Navy secretary, with the Pentagon stating he is departing the administration, effective immediately.
- Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting Navy secretary.
- The move adds to recent senior Pentagon departures and takes place as U.S. naval forces are increased in the Middle East to support a blockade of Iran amid a tense ceasefire.