Navy Secretary John Phelan departs Trump administration

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the Trump administration effective immediately, according to the Pentagon.

“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Wednesday. “We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.”

Parnell said Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will become acting Navy secretary. No reason was given for Phelan’s departure.

The abrupt exit comes as the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

It also comes the same week senior Navy officials were attending the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space conference outside Washington, according to CNN, which reported that Phelan and other top Navy leaders attended and spoke at the event.

The Wall Street Journal reported Phelan was fired after “months of simmering tension” with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also said to be “annoyed” by Phelan’s close relationship with Trump, including a direct pitch for a Trump-class battleship that bypassed Pentagon leadership.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed on social media that Phelan was not formally notified and learned of his removal through the public statement posted by Parnell.