WASHINGTON, April 23 - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Navy Secretary John Phelan was removed from his position after running into conflicts with other senior leaders at the Pentagon over issues related to shipbuilding.
Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, characterized Phelan as "a hard charger" who had disagreements with some colleagues, particularly about the pace and approach to building and purchasing new ships. "Got to get along, especially in the military, got to get along, you know," the president said. "And some people liked him, some people didnt, and thats usually the truth about everything."
Reuters was first to report Phelan's dismissal. Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity previously told Reuters that one factor in the decision was concern that Phelan had been moving too slowly to implement reforms intended to accelerate shipbuilding. Those sources also said he had fallen out with key leaders inside the Pentagon.
The Pentagon has refrained from offering an official reason for Phelan's departure and has not said whether the exit was voluntary or at the direction of the administration.
The change in leadership comes at a sensitive moment internationally. Officials noted the development arrives during a tense ceasefire with Iran, at a time when the United States is sending additional naval assets into the Middle East.
Phelan, described in reporting as a billionaire with perceived close ties to President Trump, is the first service secretary picked by this administration to be fired since the president returned to office last year.
Context and immediate implications
Details remain limited. The White House comments focus on interpersonal and policy disagreements centered on shipbuilding, while named Pentagon sources told reporters there were concerns about the tempo of reform implementation. The absence of an official Pentagon explanation leaves a degree of uncertainty about internal decision-making and the immediate policy consequences for naval procurement programs.
Disclosure of reporting limits
Information about internal deliberations at the Pentagon cited here comes from unnamed sources who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon has not released a formal statement explaining the personnel change.
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