Defense Secretary Hegseth fires Navy Secretary Phelan amid Iran war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan effective immediately on April 22, 2026, while the U.S. Navy was enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports during a ceasefire in the Iran war. Tensions between the two had grown over shipbuilding reform pace and Phelan's direct communications with Trump. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao was named acting secretary the same day.