John Phelan out as Navy secretary effective immediately

Published April 22, 2026 6:09pm ET



Navy Secretary John Phelan will be leaving the administration effective immediately, the chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, announced on Wednesday evening. It’s unclear what prompted Phelan’s exit or whether it was his choice.

“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Parnell said. “On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.