The Pentagon has removed John Phelan as Secretary of the Navy, installing Hung Cao as acting leader effective immediately in a sudden leadership shakeup that underscores ongoing turbulence inside the Department of Defense.
The announcement, delivered Wednesday by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, offered no detailed explanation for the move. However, multiple reports indicate Phelan was forced out, with indications he was given the option to resign. His departure removes the Navy’s top civilian official at a time when the service plays a central role in U.S. military operations around the world.
Phelan had served as Navy secretary since March 2025, overseeing both naval forces and the Marine Corps. His tenure included efforts to expand fleet capacity and modernize shipbuilding programs, areas that remain critical as the United States maintains a strong maritime presence in regions such as the Middle East.
Hung Cao now assumes interim leadership of the Department of the Navy. A Navy veteran and former Senate candidate in Virginia, Cao steps into a position that carries significant operational and strategic responsibility, particularly as naval forces continue enforcement actions tied to U.S. policy abroad.
Reports from major outlets describe months of internal friction between Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The tensions reportedly centered on disagreements over shipbuilding priorities and control of major acquisition programs. Some officials were also concerned about Phelan’s direct communication with President Donald Trump on Navy matters. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has publicly addressed those claims in detail.
Phelan’s removal comes amid a broader pattern of turnover across senior leadership roles. Defense Secretary Hegseth has recently pushed for changes within Army leadership, including the departure of Randy George from his position as Army chief of staff. Several other high-level roles within the Pentagon and across the administration have also seen recent exits.
Outside the Defense Department, multiple Cabinet officials have stepped down in recent weeks, signaling wider instability at the top levels of government. Despite that trend, the Navy secretary position had remained relatively stable until now.
Earlier this year, Phelan faced scrutiny after records linked his name to a 2006 flight manifest associated with Jeffrey Epstein. There has been no indication of wrongdoing, and individuals close to Phelan have said his connection was limited.
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