Trump Nominates Hung Cao as Permanent Navy Secretary

President Donald Trump nominated acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to the permanent post on Tuesday, calling the 25-year Navy veteran and special operations officer a true warrior who will keep the service focused on strength rather than endless foreign commitments.

Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, urging the Senate to confirm Cao quickly so he can continue the work already underway. Cao, who has held the acting role since April, responded that the position represents the honor of a lifetime leading the Navy and Marine Corps team. He stressed priorities like shipbuilding and homeland defense.

Cao’s background stands out from recent civilian appointees. He served as a special operations officer, working with SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 1999 he led the recovery operation for the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law after their plane went down near Martha’s Vineyard. That experience, combined with decades in uniform, gives him direct knowledge of what sailors face at sea.

The nomination arrives as the Navy deals with the demands of supporting operations against Iran. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln completed a nine-month deployment that set records for continuous time underway. Reports of strained mental health among crews and shortages of basic supplies have surfaced. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego have pressed the Pentagon for answers on how these extended missions affect readiness.

Cao replaces John Phelan, who left the acting role without public explanation after clashes with senior Defense Department officials. The broader pattern shows frequent turnover among military leaders during Trump’s second term, including the recent resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Cao had already served as undersecretary and pushed for returning service members to help address recruiting shortfalls.

Critics in Congress have framed the current strains as evidence of overextension. Yet Cao’s selection signals an effort to place someone with combat experience in charge rather than another outsider. His record emphasizes practical leadership over bureaucratic maneuvering. Trump described him as the right person to ensure the Navy remains the fiercest force in the world while avoiding the pitfalls of prolonged engagements that wear down equipment and personnel.

If confirmed, Cao will oversee recruiting, equipping, and mobilizing the entire service. Supporters argue his background equips him to push back against policies that stretch sailors thin in distant conflicts. The focus remains on restoring the Navy’s core mission of protecting American interests without the distractions of nation-building or open-ended wars.