<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>'s Secretary of the Navy is leaving his post "effectively immediately", the Pentagon has announced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A brief statement did not explain why John Phelan was leaving the powerful position or whether he had resigned or been sacked.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately," </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-bible-verse-pentagon-sermon-quotes-sean-parnell-usa-news/f79332dc-503b-4e37-98e1-77eb42c1adb5" rel="" target="" title="Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell"><span>Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell</span></a><span> said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donnyland-ukraine-proposes-renaming-donbas-region-after-donald-trump-russia-war/98037c25-6fa8-4a64-9732-b9f2edd54e6c"><strong><span>Ukrainian officials propose naming region after Donald Trump</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We wish him well in his future endeavours."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Phelan's departure comes as the Trump administration has been clearing out senior officials at the Pentagon.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/john-phelan-secretary-of-the-navy-donald-trump-pentagon-pete-hegseth-fired-usa-news/3c3b8f29-b129-4ba7-9d27-b967bcb111a7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Weeks ago, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pete-hegseth-pulp-fiction-bible-verse-pentagon-sermon-usa-politics-news/1ffd64d4-628f-49ec-be6f-51e32c83bfea" rel="" target="" title="Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth"><span>Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth</span></a><span> fired General Randy George, the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the US Army.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Early in his term Donald Trump sacked Chairman of the Joint Chiefs CQ Brown and replaced him with a retired Air Force General.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-secretary-of-labour-lori-chavez-deremer-resigns-ousted-donald-trump-cabinet-news/29812d7c-5300-438d-8350-4857deec981a"><strong><span>Third woman leaves Trump's cabinet in two months</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hegseth also sacked Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief James Slife.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Phelan's departure comes as the US Navy engages in its most complex operation in years, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the war with Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In recent weeks, the condition of several US warships has come under scrutiny, with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-navy-food-shortages-uss-abraham-lincoln-uss-tripoli-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pete-hegseth-iran/e5db289a-18fd-4b03-82e2-a01d5f1d12f3" rel="" target="" title="reports sailors aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln"><span>reports sailors aboard the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln</span></a><span> were not getting enough food.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Phelan was a controversial choice for the role, having no experience in the Navy or any connection to the military or defence industry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/fbi-director-kash-patel-sues-the-atlantic-drunkeness-lawsuit-250-million-dollars/722f8c20-a1ed-45ed-879c-f5565f878170"><strong><span>FBI Director sues magazine for $348m over claims of drunkenness</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was however a prominent fundraiser for Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were both friends with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Phelan was also under pressure over his failure to boost America's shipbuilding capacity, a priority of Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The slow pace with which the USA has been building warships has been a major concern for the Pentagon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has also been a roadblock in Australia's attempts to obtain Virginia-class submarines from the US.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao has been elevated to the role in an acting capacity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cao served as a captain in the Navy before several bids for elected office that he did not win.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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