Former U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan, far right, listens to Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, second from right, in South Korea. Phelan is out as Navy Secretary effective immediately, the Pentagon said Wednesday. File Photo courtesy of Hanwha Ocean
April 22 (UPI) — John Phelan is out as Navy secretary, “effective immediately,” the Pentagon said Wednesday evening.
“On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on a post on X. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Parnell’s statement said that Undersecretary Hung Cao will become acting Secretary.
There have been no details on why Phelan is leaving the post, NBC News reported. The departure comes in the middle of a dramatic day for the United States’ blockade of Iranian ports as Iran attacked and seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Phelan’s departure also comes in the wake of other U.S. military shakeups. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George and other Army personnel earlier in April.
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