US Navy Secretary John Phelan has been dismissed after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg over the Navy’s modernization agenda and shipbuilding priorities, according to US officials.
His removal was confirmed in a Pentagon statement posted by spokesman Sean Parnell, who said Hegseth and Feinberg were “grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.” Hung Cao, currently serving as Navy undersecretary, has been appointed acting Navy secretary.
