US Navy Secretary John Phelan, the highest-ranking civilian, has left his post, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, without giving an explanation for his sudden departure, at a time when the United States is engaged in a conflict with Iran, reports AFP.
This high-ranking official is “leaving the administration effective immediately,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote in a statement published on X, stating that his deputy, Hung Cao, will take over the position on an interim basis, writes Agerpres.
Axios wrote that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Phelan, a decision that took many by surprise and adds to the growing list of military officials who have abruptly left or been removed from their posts since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
According to a person familiar with the situation, Phelan and Hegseth did not “get along”, while the former US Navy secretary and President Donald Trump have a good relationship.
But the Pentagon chief believed Phelan had bypassed the chain of command too much through his direct connection to Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach is near Phelan's residence, another source familiar with the situation told Axios.
According to officials quoted by NBC, the decision to dismiss came amid growing tensions between Pete Hegseth, John Phelan and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, Sky News reports.
According to the quoted officials, there were “a number of issues” between them, but that Phelan's approach to shipbuilding was the main reason for his dismissal.
Phelan's firing caught Pentagon officials and members of Congress by surprise, given the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Several American generals met a similar fate
Earlier this month, in the middle of the war against Iran, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George was forced out overnight, again without the Pentagon providing any justification.
Two other generals, David Hodne, head of the Army Training and Transformation Command, and Major General William Green Jr, head of the Army Chaplain Corps met the same fate.
As of February 2025, shortly after Donald Trump's return to power, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, General Charles “CQ” Brown, was fired without justification and replaced by Dan Caine.
Other high-ranking officials, including the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, the NSA intelligence agency and the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force, among others, were also removed from their posts.
A few months later, in mid-August, Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin announced his sudden departure after two years in office instead of four.
He was succeeded in December by the commanding officer of US Forces South and Central America, Admiral Alvin Holsey, after just a year in office.
