Washington: The Pentagon announced today that US Navy Secretary John Phelan, the top civilian official in the Navy, is leaving his post immediately. A statement from the Pentagon said that Hung Cao will serve as Acting Navy Secretary.

According to Qatar News Agency, Phelan's departure comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, along with two other top military commanders, amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Phelan had never served in the military or held a civilian leadership role in the military before President Donald Trump nominated him for the position of Secretary in late 2024.