US Navy Secretary Removed As Military Leadership Crisis Widens |
The United States Navy Secretary John Phelan has been dismissed with immediate effect, according to the Pentagon, marking another major shake-up in senior military leadership during the ongoing US–Iran confrontation.
The Defence Department confirmed his departure in a brief statement but did not provide an official reason for the removal or clarify whether he resigned or was fired. However, US officials and individuals familiar with the matter said Phelan was removed due to internal disagreements over the pace of naval reforms and strained relations with senior Pentagon leadership.
According to these sources, tensions had developed between Phelan and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, his deputy Steve Feinberg, and other senior officials. Concerns were also reportedly raised about his working relationship with senior civilian leadership within the Navy, as well as an ongoing ethics inquiry involving his office. He is expected to be replaced in an acting capacity by Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao.
Phelan, a businessman and political donor with no prior military leadership experience, was appointed in 2024 as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to bring external private-sector figures into senior defence roles. His tenure quickly became controversial, with criticism emerging over delays in implementing shipbuilding reforms and difficulties managing institutional resistance within the Pentagon.
His removal comes at a sensitive moment for US military operations in the Middle East, where naval forces are playing a central role in enforcing a maritime blockade linked to the confrontation with Iran. The United States has increased its naval presence around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, as part of its wider strategic pressure campaign on Tehran.
The shake-up also comes amid broader instability within US defence leadership. In recent months, several senior military figures, including the Army’s top general and other high-ranking officers, have been dismissed or have stepped down, fuelling concerns among some lawmakers about continuity and stability in military command structures.