The US War Department announced on Wednesday (local time) that Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is stepping down effective immediately, with Hung Cao set to take over as Acting Secretary of the Navy.
The development was confirmed by Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell, who thanked Phelan for his service and said the administration wished him well in his future endeavors.
In a post on X, Parnell wrote: “Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is leaving the Administration effective immediately. On behalf of the Secretary of War and the Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.”
“We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. Vice Minister Hung Cao will become Acting Minister of the Navy,” the post said.
John Phelan’s sudden departure comes as the navy plays a central role in enforcing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – one of its biggest missions in decades.
He is just the latest senior figure to leave the Pentagon since the start of the Iran war.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to resign.
Trump nominated Phelan, a businessman and campaign donor, before his second inauguration. Phelan has also been instrumental in leading a major modernization push across U.S. shipbuilders as the administration aims to secure tens of billions of dollars in new funding to expand the Navy, according to a Bloomberg report.
(This is a developing story… check back later for updates)
