US official Cao stated that foreign military sales to Taiwan will continue when the administration deems necessary, while Taiwan's Koo confirmed no notification of policy change. The Pentagon noted final decisions rest with Trump, with US policy under the Taiwan Relations Act unchanged.
Tensions are rising in the Middle East as shaky ceasefire agreements between the U.S., Israel and Iran, and Lebanon and Israel, are tested. And, the Secretary of the Navy is out of the role.
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has abruptly departed, becoming the first head of a military service to leave during President Trump's second term. No reason was given, though media reports cite months of tensions between Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg over a new naval shipbuilding initiative. Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran and former Senate/House candidate, will serve as acting Secretary. The departure is the latest in a series of Pentagon leadership shake-ups since February 2025, including the firings of Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General Charles 'CQ' Brown Jr.
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has been dismissed over disagreements with Pentagon head Pete Hegseth, Axios reported citing US military sources. According to the source, Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss and his job was to follow orders given. The Pentagon chief viewed Phelan, who reported directly to President Trump, as insubordinate. Phelan, founder of several investment companies, was confirmed by the Senate on March 25, 2025, and sworn in. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as interim secretary.
Navy Secretary John Phelan has departed his position unexpectedly, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, becoming the first head of a military service to leave during President Trump's second term. Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful Senate and House campaigns in Virginia, will serve as acting secretary. The departure comes amid ongoing leadership upheaval at the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has fired multiple top generals and admirals since taking office.
Secretary of the Navy Phelan has resigned, becoming the latest high-ranking military leader to leave the Pentagon in recent months. His departure comes as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian ports amid an ongoing war with Iran and continued clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military officers since entering the Pentagon.
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan will leave office “immediately,” the Pentagon announced Wednesday, without providing an explanation for the sudden exit. Phelan’s departure follows the removal of top US Army officer general Randy George and two other senior officers earlier this month, at a time when the United States is locked in a war with Iran that still remains unresolved. Phelan “is departing the administration, effective immediately”, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement...
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has resigned effective immediately, with Under Secretary Hung Cao set to lead the military branch in an acting capacity. No explanation was provided for the sudden departure, which comes as the U.S. Navy enforces a blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping route.
