"Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan will depart the administration, effective immediately. We thank Phelan for his contributions to the Pentagon and the US Navy," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced on 22/4.

Parnell did not state a specific reason for this sudden change. A deputy to Phelan will serve as acting secretary of the navy.

The Secretary of the Navy is the highest-ranking civilian official of the US Department of the Navy. This position is responsible for administration, personnel, budget, and procurement, but does not directly manage combat operations.

John Phelan during a hearing before the US Senate Armed Services Committee in 2/2025. Photo: AFP

CNN cited informed sources stating that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Phelan had been in conflict for several months.

Hegseth believed Phelan was slow to implement shipbuilding reforms and was displeased with the Secretary of the Navy's "bypassing the chain of command" by directly contacting President Donald Trump, according to sources. Meanwhile, Undersecretary of Defense Steve Feinberg also sought to manage naval shipbuilding and procurement, tasks that fall under Phelan's authority.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (left) and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan at a press conference with President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, in 12/2025. Photo: AFP

Phelan had no military experience or education. He graduated from SMU in Texas in 1986 and earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School. Phelan's reputation is linked to financial investment and art collecting.

President Trump nominated Phelan as Secretary of the Navy in 11/2024, describing him as having a "very compelling track record" and asserting that the candidate was "the embodiment of American boldness and talent". The Senate confirmed Phelan's position in 10/2025.

Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)