US Navy Secretary John Phelan resigns
Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as the acting Secretary.
KATHMANDU: U.S. Navy Secretary John C. Phelan has stepped down from his position with immediate effect, Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed via social media on Wednesday.
No official reason has been disclosed for the unexpected resignation. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as the acting Secretary.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time, as the U.S. Navy is reportedly maintaining a blockade near Iranian ports close to the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire phase with Iran.
The Navy Secretary is a civilian role responsible for overseeing policy, administration, budgeting, and overall readiness of the naval force.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, since taking charge at the Pentagon, has overseen the removal of several senior military officials.
Earlier this month, amid tensions involving Iran and the United States, he dismissed the U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George along with two other generals.
The reason behind Phelan’s sudden departure remains unclear. Just a day earlier, he had addressed a major annual maritime gathering, the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference, held outside Washington, D.C.
