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John Phelan Confirmed as 79th Secretary of the Navy in Bipartisan Vote

The businessman, with no prior military experience, is set to address systemic Navy challenges and modernize the fleet during a critical period.

John Phelan testifying before Congress.
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan listens during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Phelan, a Florida businessman, spoke to Senators on a range of topics including improving retention rate in the U.S. Navy. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The Senate confirmed John Phelan as the 79th Secretary of the Navy in a 62-30 bipartisan vote, with support from all Republican senators and 11 Democrats.
  • Phelan, a Florida businessman and major Trump donor, has no military experience but emphasized his business acumen to tackle the Navy's systemic issues.
  • During his confirmation hearing, Phelan highlighted extended deployments, shipbuilding delays, cost overruns, failed audits, and personnel challenges as key priorities.
  • Critics raised concerns about his lack of military background, but Phelan pledged to leverage operational expertise within the Navy and implement a results-oriented approach.
  • His tenure begins at a pivotal time as the Navy faces international threats, particularly from China in the Indo-Pacific, and internal modernization challenges.