The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Navy’s top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, is departing the administration effective immediately. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell shared the news in a statement posted to social media, noting that Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary of the Navy.
The sudden departure comes just one day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington, D.C., where he spoke with reporters regarding his ongoing agenda. While the Pentagon provided no official reason for the exit, Phelan, a billionaire and significant contributor to President Donald Trump’s campaign, reportedly clashed repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In his announcement, Parnell stated that on behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, the administration is grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.
This exit marks the latest departure of a top defense official this year. It follows the removal of the top US Army officer and two other senior officers earlier this month, including the ousting of the Army’s top general a week prior. These events have raised concerns about the politicization of the US military.