Hegseth Fires Navy Secretary John Phelan in the Middle of the Iran Blockade

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Navy Secretary John Phelan, with the Pentagon announcing on April 23, 2026 that Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately." No official reason was given. Reporting attributed the removal to friction between Phelan and Hegseth and to disputes over shipbuilding strategy. Hung Cao, the Navy's under secretary, took over as acting secretary. The firing occurred while the Navy was enforcing a blockade of all Iranian ports that had begun on April 13.

Phelan's departure was described in reporting as one of more than 30 senior Pentagon removals under Hegseth during the second Trump term, following the forced retirement of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George on April 2. The Navy secretary is the service's top civilian official, responsible for budget, personnel and shipbuilding rather than operations, so the immediate operational effect was limited, but the churn leaves the department without settled civilian leadership during an active conflict. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called the removal evidence of "instability and dysfunction" at the Defense Department.

Phelan's removal was effective immediately in late April 2026; no successor had been nominated by the end of the month.