Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan resigns from the Trump administration

On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the immediate resignation of Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the departure but provided no specific reasons for the resignation. Deputy Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will serve as the acting secretary in the interim. Phelan's exit occurs during an ongoing naval blockade enforced by the United States against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Phelan is the second high-ranking official to depart the administration this month, following the reported early retirement of U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George. General George, appointed in 2023, was requested to step down by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of an effort to implement President Donald Trump's vision for the military. Phelan had been nominated for his role in November 2024 and confirmed in March 2025.