John Phelan's exit as Secretary of the Navy was confirmed by the Pentagon, which stated it would be effective immediately. The official line on the reasons behind his departure remains vague, yet it surfaced after notable tensions related to military initiatives, including shipbuilding.

Undersecretary Hung Cao has stepped in as the acting head, while Phelan becomes the latest in a series of top military officials to resign as tensions grow over military strategy within the ongoing conflict area of the Persian Gulf.