Amid escalating tensions with Iran, particularly concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed the US Navy’s top official. This decision comes as a direct response to the ongoing conflict overseen by then-President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, John C. Phelan resigned from his prominent military position. His departure marks a significant moment as the US grapples with its complex relationship with Tehran regarding the vital maritime trade route.
In the wake of this development, Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will temporarily step into the role of acting secretary of the Navy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Phelan’s removal followed a series of disagreements with Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg.
Phelan’s exit adds to a growing list of resignations within the Trump administration, occurring at a pivotal juncture for the president’s leadership.
This change in military leadership follows closely on the heels of another significant departure, as General Randy George, the Army’s top officer, was recently compelled to retire abruptly.
Trump and the Navy’s presence in the Strait have increased in recent weeks in a bid to bolster pressure on Iran and restrict the country’s ability to profit from oil exports.
Just two days ago, the US Navy attacked and seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Strait that was attempting to pass through Trump’s blockade.
The Strait of Hormuz usually sees over 3,000 ships sail through – connecting the world via its trade route – but during the ongoing US-Iran conflict, this number has decreased to just a handful a day.
A spokesperson for Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of War, said: ‘Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately.
John C. Phelan, the head of the US Navy, stepped down from his role on Wednesday afternoon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provides updates on the continued military operations on Iran 2during a press briefing on the Iran war at the Pentagon on March 19
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026
‘On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.
‘We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.’
General Randy George, who was ousted on April 2, was a four-star general and the 41st Chief of Staff responsible for organizing, training and equipping more than one million soldiers, though not a field commander directing tactical strikes.
He was understood to have clashed with the administration’s vision for the Army.
Hegseth has purged more than a dozen senior officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General James Slife and the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.
The US Navy began blockading all vessels attempting to leave or enter Iranian ports or the Iranian coastline, including the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, on April 17.
The blockade began when US negotiators failed to broker a peace deal with Iran on April 12, and JD Vance returned from Islamabad empty handed.
General Randy George attends the Heroes ceremony for Medal of Honor recipient retired Army Captain Larry L. Taylor at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, United States on September 6, 2023
An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye prepares to launch from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Operation Epic Fury
Iran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.
For Iran, the strait’s closure – imposed after the US and Israel launched the war on February 28 to stifle Tehran’s nuclear program – is perhaps its most powerful weapon, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Trump.
For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy and pressures its government by denying it long-term cash flow.
