US Secretary of the Navy Abruptly Departs from His Post
In a shocking twist of events, the US Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, was ousted from his post. He’s the latest Trump official to be relieved from his position. But the timing has left people uncertain, as there is an ongoing blockade at the Strait of Hormuz.
Department of War Assistant Secretary Sean Parnell announced Phelan’s sudden departure. He posted on X, “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.”
The message wishes Phelan well in his future endeavors. It’s a formality, but there have been speculations that Phelan and DoW Secretary Pete Hegseth were having disagreements regarding shipbuilding and navy acquisitions. In a report by CNN, anonymous sources claimed that both Hegseth and Trump agreed that Phelan needed to be replaced.
Social media is abuzz over the announcement, with many relaying their confusion on the matter.
Sarah Longwell, publisher from The Bulwark, wrote, “We’re in the middle of a pretty important naval blockade standoff with a country we’ve threatened to destroy, so it seems like a weird time for the Secretary of the Navy to abruptly depart. And by “weird” I mean, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?”
Dan Pfeiffer of Pod Save America also pointed out, “Weird time for the Secretary of the Navy to leave.”
Needless to say, it’s a shocking announcement, especially since the US Navy has been playing a critical role in holding the blockade. 31 ships have already been turned away by the US Navy because of the blockade, and switching out leadership appears to be a risky move.
Who is Hung Cao?
But Parnell’s announcement also included the appointment of Hung Cao as the acting secretary of the US Navy. Cao’s family immigrated from Vietnam before the fall of Saigon. Joining the US Navy became a way for him to show gratitude to the US.
Formerly the undersecretary of the US Navy, Hung Cao has over 30 years of experience as a Navy diver. As a veteran, Cao was deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. In the final leg of his tour, Cao led sensitive activities in support of the Geographic Combatant Commanders and Special Operations Command.
He retired from active duty in 2021. Cao would later become a GOP senatorial candidate from Virginia in 2024. The retired US Navy diver was endorsed by Trump at the time.
Interestingly, Cao’s military experience exceeds his predecessor’s. Phelan’s experience was largely in business and investment banking. Controversially, he didn’t even serve in the US Navy—the branch he was tasked to oversee. It’s not uncommon for US Navy secretaries to be from the private sector, but Phelan had extremely limited experience in areas where national security is concerned.
But unsurpisingly, Phelan had a close relationship with Trump. Phelan reportedly owns a mansion just a few miles away from Mar-a-Lago. Moreover, Phelan spent $1.8 million to fund Republican campaigns, making him a significant financier in the GOP. It’s certainly one effective way to get in Trump’s good graces—and things may be different during peacetime.
Trump, however, chose war—and in his struggle to end it, he may finally be considering experience over ties.
(featured image: Hung Cao)
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