Donald Trump’s big action amid blockade in Hormuz, after Army Chief, now Navy Chief dismissed

Donald Trump has removed America’s Navy Chief John Phelan from the post amid the ongoing war with Iran and blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday (April 23, 2026) that Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the Trump administration with immediate effect.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, ‘Navy Secretary John C. Phelan is resigning from the administration with immediate effect. On behalf of the Secretary of War and the Deputy Secretary of War, we thank Navy Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the American Navy. We wish him success in his future endeavours.

According to The New York Times, the decision to remove Phelan from his post came after months of rising tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. Officials said there were growing differences over management style, personnel hiring decisions and how to reform the Navy’s troubled shipbuilding program.

Among the issues on which Phelan had disputes with Hegseth and Feinberg, the most important issue was regarding the ‘Golden Fleet’. According to the NYT report, Phelan had strongly supported the Golden Fleet project, which included huge spending on new warships and a new ‘Trump-class’ aircraft carrier, but officials reported that Pentagon leaders were not happy with the way he handled the plan. One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Feinberg was becoming increasingly frustrated and had begun taking parts of the project out of Phelan’s hands.

According to reports, Phelan also had a strained relationship with his deputy, Under Secretary Hung Kao. Authorities said Cao was close to Hegseth. Especially on those social and cultural issues which have influenced the tenure of the Defense Secretary to a great extent. Cao is now expected to take over after Phelan’s departure. Earlier, Hegseth had fired Phelan’s chief of staff, John Harrison.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had dismissed Army Chief General Randy George about 20 days ago. He assumed the responsibility of the post in August 2023. His tenure was for four years, but he had to leave the post within three years. There was still one year left in his job.