John Phelan is out as Navy secretary, "effective immediately," the Pentagon said Wednesday evening. "We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on a brief post on X.

Navy Secretary John Phelan abruptly left his job on Wednesday in part because a hugely expensive new battleship he championed sparked friction with his superiors — including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hung Cao, currently undersecretary for the Navy, will take over on an acting basis.

The Pentagon has announced that the Navy’s top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, is leaving his job.

John Phelan, the US Navy secretary, has been fired by Pete Hegseth, according to reports. The Pentagon confirmed Mr Phelan has left his post after months of simmering tension with Mr Hegseth, the US secretary of defence,

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted.

John Phelan has been fired as Navy secretary after months of simmering tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to U.S. officials. His departure was revealed in a social-media post by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was ousted from his position Wednesday, six sources familiar with the matter told CNN, amid tension Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his implementation of shipbuilding reform and his close relationship with President Donald Trump.