Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired after clashing with top leaders at the Pentagon, including over administration efforts to revive U.S. shipbuilding, according to people familiar with the matter, making him the latest high-profile Pentagon departure amid the war in Iran.
Phelan was pushed out after butting heads with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg over President Donald Trump¡¯s focus on what the administration has dubbed a new U.S. ¡°Golden Fleet,¡± according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations. A White House official said Trump and Hegseth agreed new leadership was needed over the Navy.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X that Phelan was stepping down ¡°effective immediately¡± without giving a reason for his departure. Parnell said Undersecretary Hung Cao would be the replacement for now.
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