US Navy Chief Exits As Pentagon Reshuffle Deepens Amid Gulf Tensions

Minteesinot Niggusie

John Phelan has stepped down as US Secretary of the Navy with immediate effect, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, marking the latest departure in a series of senior military leadership changes under President Donald Trump. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post that Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao would assume the role in an acting capacity.

The exit comes against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and continued hostilities linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, placing additional scrutiny on defence leadership in Washington.

Phelan’s departure follows a string of removals and resignations across the US military hierarchy in recent months. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down, while senior officers including David Hodne and William Green have also left their posts.

Since taking office, Hegseth has overseen the dismissal of more than a dozen senior officers, including the Navy’s top uniformed officer and the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, signalling a broad reshaping of military leadership.

Phelan, a businessman and political donor with no prior military service, assumed the Navy’s top civilian post in March 2025 after his nomination by Trump the previous year. His tenure coincided with efforts by the administration to expand US naval and commercial shipping capacity, including proposals for a new class of heavily armed vessels under a “Golden Fleet” initiative.

Analysts suggest the leadership change may reflect both policy frustration and political alignment. Andrew Peek said the administration had been seeking faster progress on maritime expansion plans, adding that Phelan’s successor was likely viewed as more closely aligned with the president’s priorities.

The US military is expected to continue its changes over the course of the year.