Navy Secretary John Phelan has left the Trump administration, the White House confirmed. Phelan, who served as the civilian head of the Department of the Navy, announced his departure in a brief statement thanking service members, civilian employees and the department’s leadership for their work. He said he was proud of the Navy’s recent efforts to strengthen readiness, modernize the fleet and support personnel and families.
The White House released a statement expressing appreciation for Phelan’s service and noting that the department will continue its operations during the transition. An acting secretary or interim leadership arrangement will manage the department until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed, the statement said. Pentagon officials emphasized that ongoing naval missions and commitments will proceed without interruption.
Phelan’s tenure included oversight of shipbuilding plans, training initiatives and policy implementation across the Navy and Marine Corps. Colleagues praised his focus on morale and operational capability. He did not immediately specify his next steps.