John Phelan is leaving his role as Secretary of the United States Navy, becoming the latest senior military leader to depart the Trump administration. The Navy did not provide a reason for his exit. His departure follows several recent removals of high-ranking officers, including the Army Chief of Staff and other senior officials, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed more than a dozen top military leaders since taking office.

Phelan, a civilian without prior military service, was sworn in as Navy Secretary in March 2025 after being nominated by President Donald Trump the previous year. He will be replaced by Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran who previously served as undersecretary and ran an unsuccessful Senate campaign in Virginia in 2024.

The leadership change comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports during a ceasefire, and clashes have continued in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has announced it seized two ships in the strait and stated it is not possible to reopen the waterway due to what it called violations of the ceasefire by the United States and Israel.