US Edition
Trump says Navy Secretary Phelan was fired over shipbuilding conflicts
The dismissal follows months of tensions over shipbuilding reforms, as Trump pushes to accelerate new ship orders and overhaul Navy planning.
- On Thursday, President Donald Trump confirmed the firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan, the first service secretary ousted in the administration's second term, citing shipbuilding conflicts. Retired Navy Captain Hung Cao was named acting secretary.
- Phelan's removal followed months of tension with Pete Hegseth over shipbuilding execution, intensified after Phelan suggested building U.S. warships overseas remained an option, prompting Trump to decide he needed to go.
- Critics challenged Phelan's focus on the Navy's Future Frigate program within the $65.8 billion shipbuilding budget. Retired Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery called it 'the exact opposite of the requirements,' citing missing defense systems.
- Acting Secretary Hung Cao immediately pledged to advance shipbuilding initiatives, while Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated Cao 'embodies the relentless grit and America First vision required' for maritime superiority.
- Future appointees must align with President Trump's aggressive shipbuilding timeline to support naval expansion goals. Observers monitor whether Cao will be appointed permanently to lead the ongoing modernization effort.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Navy secretary's removal points to Trump’s anxiety over shipbuilding
The abrupt firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan, the latest head to roll in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s turbulent Pentagon, points to President Trump’s anxiety over his ambitious and divisive vision for U.S. shipbuilding. Phelan, a billionaire and Trump fundraiser, was ousted on Wednesday, 13 months into the role, becoming the first service secretary to [...]
Trump Says Navy Secretary Phelan Exited Pentagon After Internal Conflicts Over Shipbuilding
President Donald Trump said on April 23 that Secretary of the Navy John Phelan stepped down after “conflicts” with other Pentagon officials over shipbuilding and ship procurement. Trump did not name the officials Phelan was at odds with, but said that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was not among them. “I really liked him, but he had some conflict with, not necessarily Pete, with some other. He’s a hard-charger and he had some conflicts with some …
He was supposed to build the fleet of the future, had a good connection to the president. But John Phelan fell in disrepute with Minister of Defense Hegseth. The Marine State Secretary leaves the Pentagon – in the middle of the Iran war.
How did the dismissal occur, and who convinced Trump to take such a step? On Wednesday, April 22, US Navy Chief John Phelan spent over an hour at the White House, waiting to hear whether US President Donald Trump would save him from dismissal. However, he ultimately left disappointed, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing The Wall Street Journal. Read also: US Navy Chief Abruptly Resigns After Conflict Over Trump, - WSJ How the Dismissal Occurred A…
Why did Trump fire Navy Secretary John Phelan? US President says, ‘Some people liked him, some people didn't’
Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired after conflicts with senior Pentagon leadership regarding shipbuilding, as confirmed by US President Donald Trump. Phelan's dismissal reflects ongoing tensions in the military amid a ceasefire with Iran and increasing naval presence in the Middle East.
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