Navy Secretary John Phelan Departs Administration Effective Immediately
Multiple news outlets, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Phelan was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid months of internal tensions.
RWTNews Staff
WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan was removed from his position on April 22, 2026, the Pentagon announced late Wednesday. He is the first service secretary to leave during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell stated: “Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately. 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. We wish him well in his future endeavors.” Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as Acting Secretary of the Navy.
Phelan, a Florida businessman with no prior military experience, was sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Navy in March 2025. He founded Rugger Management LLC, an investment firm, and had close personal ties to the Trump family. His priorities included accelerating shipbuilding and strengthening the maritime industrial base while overseeing a $263.5 billion annual budget and nearly one million personnel.
Multiple news outlets, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Phelan was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid months of internal tensions. Disagreements centered on the pace of shipbuilding reforms and implementation of the administration’s “Golden Fleet” initiative to expand naval capabilities. The move occurred while the U.S. Navy is actively enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports during the ongoing ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
No public statement was issued by Phelan or President Trump. The Pentagon provided no additional explanation for the departure.
For the Department of the Navy and American service members engaged in high-stakes operations abroad, the abrupt change marks the latest leadership shift at the Pentagon during a period of active maritime enforcement. Hung Cao, a former Navy officer and Trump administration official, assumes interim leadership as the situation develops.
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