Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was ousted from his position Wednesday, six sources familiar with the matter told CNN, amid tension Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his implementation of shipbuilding reform and his close relationship with President Donald Trump.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Wednesday evening that Phelan would be departing “effective immediately” — a surprise announcement that came even while the US Navy is carrying out a blockade of Iranian ports during a ceasefire in the Iran war. Earlier, Hegseth had a conversation with Trump and informed Phelan he needed to resign or be fired, two sources familiar with the matter said.
“President Trump and Secretary Hegseth agreed new leadership at the Navy is needed,” one of the sources, a senior administration official, told CNN.
The Navy directed queries about the details of Phelan’s departure to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House directed CNN to a statement from Parnell.
“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,” Parnell said in a post on X. “We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.”
Continue reading the complete article on the original source
