Navy Secretary John Phelan leaving ‘immediately,’ Pentagon says

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has abruptly departed from the administration, as announced by the Pentagon’s top spokesman Sean Parnell on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether Phelan chose to step down or was asked to leave his position.

In the wake of Phelan’s departure, Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will be stepping in as the acting Secretary of the Navy. Parnell expressed gratitude on behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War for Phelan’s service to the Department and the United States Navy, wishing him well in his future endeavors.

John Phelan was appointed to his role in March 2025. Prior to his government service, Phelan had an impressive career in the private sector. He was the founder and chairman of Rugger Management, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. Before that, he co-founded and co-managed MSD Capital, a private investment firm working with Michael Dell, as well as MSD Partners, which managed investments for external investors.

Phelan holds a master’s degree from Harvard Business School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude with distinction from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. Additionally, he obtained a general course degree in economics and international relations from the London School of Economics.

As this story continues to develop, stay tuned for updates on the situation.