US Navy Secretary steps down amid naval blockade of Iran

John Phelan AP Photo/Alex Brandon The Pentagon announced this Wednesday (22) that United States Secretary of the Navy, John C. Phelan, is leaving his position in the Trump administration. The decision comes amid the war in Iran and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement published on social media, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the measure has “immediate effect.” Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will take over as acting secretary of the Navy. The sudden departure comes just one day after Phelan spoke to a large audience of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., and spoke with journalists about his ongoing agenda. Phelan’s departure also comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army’s top officer, Gen. Randy George, as well as two other high-ranking generals. According to authorities interviewed by the “Wall Street Journal”, John Phelan was fired from his position after months of growing tensions with Pete Hegseth. Top Pentagon leaders were reportedly especially incensed last year when Phelan directly pitched the idea for a new warship to Trump, bypassing Hegseth. Who is John C. Phelan John C. Phelan had never served in the military or held a civilian leadership role in the Navy before being nominated by President Donald Trump for secretary in late 2024. Phelan was a major donor to the Trump campaign and founded the private investment firm Rugger Management LLC. According to his biography, his main exposure to the military came from an advisory role at Spirit of America, a non-profit organization that supported the defense of Ukraine and Taiwan. See the videos that are trending on g1

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