The Pentagon has fired US Navy Secretary John Phelan, abruptly removing the Navy’s top civilian official in the middle of a wartime blockade of Iranian ports. The dismissal, announced on April 22 without an official reason, follows months of mounting tensions between Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Phelan, a 62-year-old financier and major Republican donor with no prior military or defense leadership experience, was confirmed as Navy secretary on March 25, 2025 . His departure comes as the Navy enforces a blockade of Iranian ports and targets Tehran-linked ships globally during a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, now in its eighth week .
The firing stems from a long-simmering power struggle between Phelan and Hegseth. According to Axios and the Wall Street Journal, Hegseth grew frustrated that Phelan bypassed the chain of command by communicating directly with President Donald Trump . Phelan, last year pitched an idea for a new “Trump-class” battleship directly to Trump without going through Hegseth.
One source told Axios that “Phelan didn’t understand he wasn’t the boss,” adding that “his job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given” . Hegseth reportedly dismissed Phelan in a phone call minutes before the public announcement.
Phelan’s firing is the latest in Hegseth’s campaign to purge Pentagon leadership. Since taking office, Hegseth has fired or replaced approximately 20 senior officers, including Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer .
Meanwhile, the Navy’s mission continues. The US has 21 warships in the region, with seven more en route, and three aircraft carriers deployed in or heading to the Middle East . The Trump administration has stated that all armed forces are poised to resume combat operations against Iran should the ceasefire expire .
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran and former Republican Senate candidate, has taken over immediately .
With Hegseth asserting direct control over military leadership and tensions between civilian appointees and career officers unresolved, further Pentagon shake-ups appear likely. The blockade of Iranian ports shows no sign of easing, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain at a standstill . For naval forces executing one of the most consequential missions in decades, the sudden removal of their top civilian leader adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile operation.
