U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, marking the latest instance of a top defense leader stepping down or being ousted, AP reported.
According to Axios, Phelan was fired by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, while the Department of Defense framed it as an immediate departure.
“Phelan didn’t understand he wasn’t the boss. His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given,” Axios quoted a person familiar with the situation as saying.
The same person said Phelan and Hegseth did not “get along,” according to Axios.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately” in a post on X. He did not provide a reason.
Navy undersecretary Hung Cao will take over in an acting capacity.
The firing comes amid a naval standoff with Iran and about three weeks after Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and two other military leaders.
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