US Navy Secretary Dismissed Amid 'Failure in Hormuz'
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. Photo: Collected.
The United States Secretary of the Navy, has lost his job following failures in the Strait of Hormuz. He resigned from the Trump administration on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the resignation is effective immediately. Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will serve as the Acting Secretary in his place.
Phelan is the latest in a series of high-ranking military officials to resign in recent months. His departure comes at a time of ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel regarding Iran, alongside a continuous U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
While the specific reason for Phelan's resignation was not disclosed, Parnell said, "We are grateful for Secretary Phelan's service and wish him the best for his future."
Previously, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to resign. Other officials, including General David Hodne and Major General William Green, have also been removed recently. Since joining the Pentagon, Hegseth has ousted more than a dozen top military officials.
Phelan took office in March 2025, having been nominated by President Donald Trump in 2024. Although he had no prior military experience, he was a businessman and a major donor to the Trump campaign.
Former U.S. diplomat Andrew Peek believes the President is clearly interested in expanding the country's trade and civilian fleet. He noted that someone eventually had to take responsibility for the lack of progress toward that goal, which likely played a role in Phelan's resignation. He also suggested that the administration aims to bring in someone closer and more trusted for the role.
Meanwhile, tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the President is "satisfied" with this position and believes Iran is currently in a weak state.
On the other hand, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator for talks with the U.S., stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "not possible" due to "ceasefire violations" by the U.S. and Israel.
(Source: BBC)
