Navy Secretary abruptly leaves job as U.S. naval blockade of Iran continues | 22 April 2026 | Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving his position “effective immediately,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Wednesday. “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,” Parnell said in a post on X. “We wish him well in his future endeavors. Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.” The announcement comes while the U.S. Navy is carrying out a blockade of Iranian ports during a ceasefire in the Iran war. Thus far, U.S. forces have redirected 29 vessels to return to port and have also boarded two ships.