Phelan out as US Secretary of the Navy

John Phelan is out “effective immediately” as US Secretary of the Navy, according to an announcement on 22 April by a Pentagon spokesman. No reason for Mr Phelan’s sudden departure from the Trump Administration was revealed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell in his announcement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mr Parnell said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg were “grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.”

Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will become the Acting Navy Secretary.

Mr Phelan’s departure comes as the US Navy is enforcing a naval blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. It also comes one day after Mr Phelan provided the keynote luncheon address during Sea-Air-Space, one of the largest events for the maritime defence community. During his address, he highlighted the Trump Administration’s “historic budget” includes US$65.8 Bn in fiscal year 2027 that looks to procure 75 battle force ships and 83 unmanned vessels.

“Restoring American maritime dominance, both commercial and military, is a critical national heritage,” said the former secretary. Mr Phelan was sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Navy on 25 March 2025.