Secretary of the Navy John Phelan “is departing the administration, efficient instantly,” the Pentagon’s prime spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned Wednesday.
An administration official instructed ABC information “Secretary Phelan was requested to step down.”
Parnell mentioned Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will function performing Secretary of the Navy.
“On behalf of the Secretary of Warfare and Deputy Secretary of Warfare, we’re grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Division and the USA Navy. We want him nicely in his future endeavors,” Parnell mentioned in his assertion.
On this Dec. 22, 2025, file picture, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan speaks at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership, in Palm Seaside, Fla.
Alex Brandon/AP, FILE
Phelan was appointed to his place in March 2025.
The secretary of the Navy is the service’s prime civilian official. The secretary and the Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy’s prime admiral, are accountable for coaching and equipping the Navy. They don’t have duties for working fight operations just like the one towards Iran, which falls to regional commanders.
In accordance with his Division of the Navy biography, Phelan was founder and chairman of Rugger Administration, a non-public funding agency based mostly in Palm Seaside, Florida. Earlier than launching Rugger, he was a co-founder and co-managing associate of MSD Capital, a non-public funding agency for Michael Dell, and MSD Companions, which managed investments for third-party traders.
He earned a grasp’s diploma from Harvard Enterprise College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude with distinction from Southern Methodist College with a bachelor’s in economics and political science.
Phelan additionally earned a basic course diploma in economics and worldwide relations from the London College of Economics.
This can be a growing story. Please verify again for updates.
