Overview
- Phelan’s exit was announced Wednesday as an immediate change, and Undersecretary Hung Cao was named acting Navy secretary.
- The Pentagon gave no reason, while Reuters and other outlets reported he was fired after months of clashes over shipbuilding authority and the Golden Fleet plan.
- The leadership change lands as the Navy enforces a blockade tied to the Iran conflict, with U.S. forces redirecting 29 vessels and boarding two during a fragile ceasefire.
- The departure extends a broader shake-up led by Hegseth, following the April 2 removal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and other senior leaders.
- Phelan, a businessman and major Trump donor with no prior military service, had championed a larger fleet that included proposed “Trump‑class” battleships and had touted that agenda at the Sea‑Air‑Space conference on Tuesday.