In the middle of the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US government is replacing its Secretary of State responsible for the Navy.
April 23, 2026, 03:58April 23, 2026, 03:58
John Phelan will leave the government with immediate effect, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense announced on the X platform. Undersecretary Hung Cao should take over the business until further notice. The ministry did not provide any information about the reasons for the change.
John Phelan must resign from his position.Image: keystone
Phelan, a former investment banker, took up the post in March last year. The focus of his work was, among other things, on strengthening shipbuilding and the maritime industry.
As the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources, tensions had been simmering for months between Phelan and his two superiors, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy Stephen Feinberg. Feinberg in particular was increasingly dissatisfied with how Phelan was implementing the Navy’s new shipbuilding initiative.
Trump raved about Phelan
It was only in December that Phelan and US President Donald Trump announced plans for new battleships that would bear the president’s name. Trump spoke highly of Phelan at the event.
Not the first top personnel
The appointment comes at a time when the Navy is taking on a central role in the Iran war from the US perspective. Trump wants to cut off Tehran’s important sources of income with a naval blockade. The blockade applies to all ships coming from or destined for Iranian ports.
Just three weeks ago, Defense Minister Hegseth urged the US Army chief of staff to resign. General Randy George was resigning from his position with immediate effect, it was said at the time. George was nominated by Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden. (sda/dpa)