Navy Secretary Phelan leaves US government
In the middle of the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US government is replacing its Secretary of State responsible for the Navy. John Phelan will leave the government with immediate effect, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense announced on the X platform. Undersecretary Hung Cao should take over the business until further notice. The ministry did not provide any information about the reasons for the change.
Phelan, a former investment banker, took up the post in March last year. The focus of his work was, among other things, on strengthening shipbuilding and the maritime industry. As the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources, tensions have been simmering for months between Phelan and his two superiors, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy Stephen Feinberg. Feinberg in particular was increasingly dissatisfied with how Phelan was implementing the Navy’s new shipbuilding initiative.
It was only in December that Phelan and US President Donald Trump announced plans for new battleships that would bear the president’s name. Trump spoke highly of Phelan at the event.
Just three weeks ago, Defense Minister Hegseth urged the US Army chief of staff to resign. General Randy George was resigning from his position with immediate effect, it was said at the time. George was nominated by Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
