Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan on April 22, 2026, according to a Pentagon announcement posted to social media by spokesperson Sean Parnell.
Parnell stated Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately,” with Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao named as acting secretary.
The Guardian reported that sources familiar with Pentagon dynamics said Phelan was fired, citing an increasingly rocky relationship with Hegseth and senior staff who preferred Cao for the role.
Hegseth blamed Phelan for not acting aggressively enough against Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly appeared in a video advising troops to ignore “illegal orders,” according to the sources.
Phelan also clashed with Hegseth’s deputy, Stephen Feinberg, over shipbuilding initiatives, a point Feinberg had previously criticized in reports by the New York Times and CNN.
Phelan’s firing came just one day after he addressed sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington D.C., where he spoke about his agenda.
The departure follows weeks after Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and several other top defense leaders since taking office in 2025.
Phelan, a Trump campaign donor and founder of Rugger Management LLC, had no prior military service before his nomination as Navy secretary in late 2024.
His only military connection was an advisory role with the nonprofit Spirit of America, which supports defense efforts for Ukraine and Taiwan.
Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran who served in combat zones, fled Vietnam with his family as a child in the 1970s and ran an unsuccessful Senate bid in Virginia in 2024 with Trump’s endorsement.
In his campaign video, Cao compared Vietnam’s communist regime during the Cold War to the Biden administration.
The firing occurs as the U.S. Navy enforces a blockade of Iranian ports and targets ships linked to Tehran during a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.
The Associated Press could not immediately reach Phelan’s office for comment.
Why Hegseth wanted Phelan replaced
Sources told the Guardian that Hegseth blamed Phelan for insufficient action against Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly’s video urging troops to disregard illegal orders.
Hegseth and senior staff reportedly viewed Phelan as too passive in responding to political challenges to military authority.
The preference for Hung Cao reflected a desire for leadership more aligned with Hegseth’s approach to discipline and chain-of-command enforcement.
What Phelan’s background reveals about the appointment
Phelan’s lack of military service distinguished him from previous Navy secretaries, relying instead on his role as a Trump donor and private equity executive.
His advisory work with Spirit of America provided his primary connection to defense issues before his nomination.
The appointment followed a pattern of Trump selecting loyalists with limited service experience for key Pentagon roles.
What happens next in Navy leadership
Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed.
Cao’s combat experience and Vietnam War refugee background contrast with Phelan’s civilian business profile.
His Senate campaign history suggests he may bring a more politically engaged style to the role, though his confirmation prospects remain uncertain.
Who is Hung Cao?
Hung Cao is a 25-year Navy veteran who served in combat zones, fled Vietnam with his family as a child in the 1970s, and ran an unsuccessful Senate bid in Virginia in 2024 with Trump’s endorsement.
Why was John Phelan fired?
Phelan was fired due to clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his response to Senator Mark Kelly’s video advising troops to ignore illegal orders and over shipbuilding initiatives, according to Pentagon sources.
