Trump Nominates Hung Cao as Permanent Navy Secretary

President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Hung Cao to serve as the permanent secretary of the Navy, elevating the acting leader who has held the post since late April. Cao, a retired Navy officer with 25 years of service including special operations work alongside SEAL teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, would oversee recruiting, shipbuilding and day-to-day operations if confirmed by the Senate.

Trump described Cao as a true warrior and urged quick action on the nomination. Cao, in turn, called the opportunity the honor of a lifetime and highlighted priorities such as expanding ship construction and protecting the homeland. His selection follows the abrupt departure of his predecessor, John Phelan, whose exit occurred without public explanation amid reported friction inside the Pentagon.

The move comes as the Navy manages sustained operational demands tied to U.S. military activity against Iran. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln recently completed a nine-month deployment that set records for continuous time at sea, prompting concerns from congressional Democrats about crew strain, mental health and shortages of basic supplies. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego have pressed the Pentagon for greater accountability on how extended missions are affecting readiness.

Cao’s background includes an earlier assignment leading the recovery operation after the 1999 plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law near Martha’s Vineyard. Unlike Phelan, who lacked prior military or Navy civilian leadership experience, Cao brings direct operational credentials that align with the administration’s emphasis on combat veterans in senior posts.

The nomination fits a pattern of leadership turnover across the Defense Department. Multiple service secretaries and senior officers have departed since Trump took office, often after disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputies. The Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, resigned last week following similar reported clashes. These changes have raised questions among analysts about institutional continuity at a time when the military is executing extended commitments abroad.

Cao’s record also reflects earlier advocacy for reintegrating service members removed under previous vaccine mandates, a policy stance that resonates with the administration’s broader personnel approach. If confirmed, his tenure will be measured in part by whether the Navy can accelerate shipbuilding goals while sustaining current operational tempos without further erosion of fleet maintenance and personnel retention.

Senate confirmation is expected to draw scrutiny over both Cao’s qualifications and the administration’s management of military resources amid the Iran conflict. Democrats have signaled they will seek detailed briefings on deployment lengths and logistical shortfalls before any vote.