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John Phelan is leaving his post as Navy secretary, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, marking the first departure of a military service chief during Donald Trump’s second term and the latest in a series of high-level defense leadership shakeups.
No explanation was provided for Phelan’s sudden exit, which takes effect immediately, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Phelan’s departure comes at a critical moment for the Navy, which is heavily engaged in enforcing a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and conducting maritime operations during a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Phelan, a major Trump donor and founder of Rugger Management LLC, was nominated in late 2024 despite lacking prior military service or Pentagon leadership experience. His appointment was widely seen as part of a broader effort by the administration to reshape military leadership.
His exit follows a wave of firings and leadership changes across the Defense Department led by Pete Hegseth.
In recent weeks, Hegseth dismissed several senior officials, including Army Chief Gen. Randy George. Earlier removals included Lisa Franchetti, Jim Slife and Charles Q. Brown Jr..
The leadership transition comes as the Navy maintains a significant global presence, including multiple aircraft carriers deployed or en route to the Middle East and ongoing operations tied to the Iran conflict.
The service has also been active in the Caribbean, participating in interdiction efforts targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels and playing a role in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Pentagon officials offered little detail about the decision, describing Phelan’s departure only as effective immediately. The White House did not provide additional comment.
Hung Cao, the Navy’s undersecretary, will serve as acting secretary. A 25-year Navy combat veteran, Cao previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Virginia, including a 2024 Senate bid against Tim Kaine.
Cao, who fled Vietnam as a child, later attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in special operations roles in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia before retiring as a captain.
Phelan’s exit underscores ongoing turbulence within Pentagon leadership during Trump’s second term, as the administration continues to replace top military officials while pursuing major policy shifts, including rolling back diversity initiatives and revisiting vaccine policies for service members.
The abrupt nature of the move was highlighted by Phelan’s public appearances just a day earlier, when he spoke at a major Navy conference and met with lawmakers to discuss shipbuilding priorities and budget plans.
It remains unclear whether the administration will nominate a permanent replacement or how long Cao will serve in an acting capacity.
With tensions in the Middle East unresolved and the Navy playing a central role in U.S. military strategy, leadership stability at the top of the service is likely to remain under scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
