Former President Donald Trump praised departing Navy Secretary John C. Phelan while announcing his immediate departure from the administration.
“John Phelan is a long time friend, and very successful businessman, who did an outstanding job serving as my Secretary Of The Navy for the last year,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “John helped my Administration rebuild Sleepy Joe Biden’s rapidly depleted, and almost abandoned, Navy. Now, because of John, and all of the Great Men and Women lovingly and tirelessly involved, we have the strongest Navy in the World — BY FAR!”
Trump added that although Phelan has decided to move on, he appreciates his service and would like to have him back in the administration in the future.
The official departure was announced the previous day by Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell.
“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Parnell posted on X. “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. We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.”
Phelan had served in the role for just over one year. According to The Wall Street Journal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Phelan in a phone call minutes before the public announcement, citing months of simmering tensions over shipbuilding priorities and management style.
Sources told the Journal that key disagreements centered on Phelan’s strong advocacy for a costly new “Trump Class” battleship program, which senior Pentagon leaders viewed as misaligned with the push toward smaller, cheaper uncrewed vessels. Phelan had reportedly pitched the battleship idea directly to Trump, bypassing Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.
The shake-up occurred as the U.S. military is actively enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, with more than 15 warships already in the region. It is the latest in a series of senior-level dismissals under Hegseth, who has removed nearly two dozen high-ranking military officers since taking office.
Phelan, a wealthy Palm Beach financier and longtime Trump supporter, was sworn in as Navy Secretary in March 2025. He and his wife are prominent art collectors who helped raise millions for Trump’s campaign.
Under Secretary Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and combat veteran, will now lead the Navy on an acting basis.