US Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired after months of alleged tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg over the Navy’s modernization agenda and shipbuilding priorities, according to US officials.Their removal was confirmed in a statement posted by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said Hegseth and Feinberg “are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.” Hung Kao, currently serving as Under Secretary of the Navy, has been appointed Acting Navy Secretary.Officials familiar with the matter, interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, said the decision came after growing disagreement with the president over the pace of implementation. donald trump’s naval priorities, especially shipbuilding and fleet modernization. Pentagon sources said Hegseth and Feinberg felt Phelan was not moving fast enough on key defense procurement targets.Phelan was reportedly informed of the firing in a phone call minutes before the announcement was made public. Earlier, WSJ sources said Phelan was meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the Navy’s budget request.Tension had reportedly been building within the Pentagon for months. Officials cited concerns over Phelan’s close communications with President Trump on naval issues, including direct exchanges on shipbuilding policy, which reportedly bypassed traditional Pentagon channels.Disagreements also emerged over major procurement proposals, including Phelan’s push for new naval programs, which Pentagon leadership felt was not properly coordinated within the chain of command.The leadership change comes amid widening divisions within the US defense establishment, with Hegseth overseeing a series of changes to senior military personnel in recent months.Phelan, who was sworn in as Navy Secretary in March 2025, had previously faced internal opposition regarding his management style and policy approach, particularly regarding acquisition reforms and the Navy leadership structure.The dismissals come at a time when the Pentagon is pursuing a major naval expansion and shipbuilding under the current administration, with senior officials pushing for faster delivery timelines and greater alignment with the White House’s defense objectives.