Top US Navy chief ousted as blockade in Iranian ports continues

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Pentagon abruptly announced Navy Secretary John Phelan's departure on Wednesday. According to CNN, Phelan was told by the Trump administration to resign or be fired.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post that Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately"

This marks the the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump's second term.

The unexpected exit comes just two days after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy's annual conference in Washington.

Phelan's departure is the latest in a series of shakeups of top leadership at the Pentagon, coming just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army's top uniformed officer, General Randy George. Hegseth also fired several other top generals, admirals and defence leaders since taking office last year.

No reason was given for Phelan's unexpected exit. This comes at a critical moment as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a ceasefire in the US-Iran war. 

Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran and Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy. Cao ran a failed US Senate bid in Virginia in 2024.