US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan Departs in Latest Pentagon Shake-Up

US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during US 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 US 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.

However, The New York Times and other US media reported that tensions had been building for months between Phelan and his superiors, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. Feinberg was increasingly dissatisfied with Phelan's handling of a new naval shipbuilding initiative.

Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the US Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year US 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 shake-ups of top leadership at the Pentagon, coming just weeks after Hegseth fired the US 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 Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the US Navy's top uniformed officer, and General Jim Slife, the No 2 leader at the Air Force. Trump also fired General Charles "CQ" Brown Jnr as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.