U.S. Navy Secretary Removed Amid Naval Blockade on Iran: Sources Confirm Dismissal After Pentagon Tensions

US Navy Secretary John Phelan has been removed from his post effective immediately, with Undersecretary Hung Cao stepping in as acting secretary, according to Pentagon officials.

The abrupt firing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came after mounting tensions between Phelan and Hegseth and the Pentagon’s No. 2, Stephen Feinberg, according to multiple officials and others familiar with the relationship. There were a number of issues between the men, but the speed and approach Phelan was taking when it came to shipbuilding, a challenge in which President Trump has taken a personal interest, appears to have been the main reason for the firing, multiple people said.

They clashed not only on shipbuilding, but also the Golden Fleet, Trump’s signature naval initiative, as well as the deployment of ships around the world. Feinberg had wrested some decision making on shipbuilding away from Phelan, according to two officials familiar with the matter.

Phelan’s ouster comes amid the U.S. Naval blockade of Iran. The Pentagon offered no official reason for his departure, but said that the new acting Navy secretary will be Undersecretary Hung Cao.

On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement posted on X.