Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, just hours after spending most of the day on Capitol Hill discussing shipbuilding with lawmakers. The Pentagon announced his departure in a statement posted on X by top spokesman Sean Parnell, saying it was “effective immediately,” with no further explanation given. The sudden announcement left many inside and outside the Pentagon stunned.
Phelan had no idea he was about to be let go. He only found out about his own firing when he saw the post on X. The abrupt dismissal sent shockwaves across the Pentagon, with lawmakers and officials raising concerns about the growing instability within the Department of Defense under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, according to NBC News.
