In a dramatic shake-up within the upper echelons of the U.S. Department of Defense, Navy Secretary John Phelan was suddenly dismissed from his post this week. The move, confirmed by officials on Wednesday, April 22, highlights simmering tensions at the Pentagon's highest levels.
While an official reason for the abrupt firing was not provided by the Pentagon, multiple sources point to growing discord between Phelan and other senior defense leaders, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The friction reportedly centered on strategic disagreements over naval shipbuilding priorities.
A key point of contention was Phelan's advocacy for the "Golden Fleet" initiative, a legacy naval expansion program championed by former President Donald Trump that focuses on deploying new battleships. Phelan, who was nominated by Trump in 2024 and took office in early 2025, was a significant donor to Trump's political campaigns and came to the role from the private sector without prior military service.
His departure marks a significant shift in naval leadership and raises questions about the future direction of U.S. maritime power projection, a topic of keen interest for observers of Asia-Pacific security dynamics.
Phelan has been succeeded by Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao, a former military officer, who stepped into the role of acting Secretary immediately following the dismissal.
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US Navy Secretary fired among growing conflict with Pentagon leaders
cgtn.com
