US Navy Secretary is leaving in latest departure of a top defence leader

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced, the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second

term but just the latest top defence leader to step down or be ousted.

No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy’s top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war.

Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful campaigns for the US Senate and House in Virginia.

Phelan’s departure is the latest in a series of shakeups of top leadership at the Pentagon, coming just weeks after defence Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army’s top uniformed officer, General Randy George.

Hegseth also has fired several other top generals, admirals and defence leaders since taking office last year. The firings began in February 2025, when Hegseth removed military leaders, including Adm.

Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, and General Jim Slife, the No. 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also fired Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Showing how sudden the latest move was, Phelan had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington and spoke with reporters about his agenda.