Navy Secretary John Phelan fired amid shipbuilding reform tensions and Iran blockade
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was removed from his position on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, following tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding shipbuilding reform implementation and Phelan's direct communication with President Donald Trump. The announcement came while the US Navy is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports during a ceasefire, having redirected 31 vessels and boarded two. Hegseth, after a conversation with Trump, informed Phelan he needed to resign or be fired. Trump and Hegseth agreed new leadership was needed due to slow shipbuilding progress. Phelan, a businessman who fundraised for Trump's campaign, initially sought confirmation of his dismissal from other White House officials before Trump personally confirmed his departure. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy. Phelan's departure is the first among military service secretaries nominated under Trump. CNN previously reported Phelan's name on a 2006 flight manifest with Jeffrey Epstein, though a friend stated Phelan was unaware it was Epstein's plane until arrival and had no further interaction with Epstein.
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