Navy’s New Leader as Trump Administration Faces Shake‑Ups

The Navy has just lost its top civilian boss, John Phelan, who stepped down today. The announcement came from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said that Undersecretary Hung Cao will take over in an acting capacity. Cao is a former Navy officer and was the Republican candidate for Senate in Virginia in 2024, but he lost to Tim Kaine. Phelan’s exit is part of a wave of high‑profile departures in the Trump team. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to resign, and several other senior Army officers were removed from command. The commander of U. S. Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey, also retired last year. The Navy is a key player in the ongoing tensions with Iran. Although a temporary ceasefire has held for about two weeks, the U. S. continues to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports under President Trump’s orders. Officials have even floated the idea of sending Navy escorts for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.Phelan, who was confirmed by the Senate with a 62‑30 vote in March 2025, had a background in finance and once worked for Michael Dell’s investment firm. While he was secretary, the Navy helped conduct strikes on suspected drug vessels in Latin America and seized oil tankers tied to Venezuela. He also escorted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro onto a U. S. aircraft carrier after his capture. During the Trump administration’s push to expand naval power, Phelan helped promote plans for up to 25 new “Trump‑class” battleships. He appeared alongside President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth at Mar‑a‑Lago last year to discuss the project. Phelan’s last public role was at a Sea, Air, Space conference near Washington, D. C. , where he spoke about naval strategy and future fleet development. With Cao stepping in, the Navy must navigate both internal changes and external pressures from the Middle East.