Trump news at a glance: Pentagon replaces secretary of the navy amid US blockade in strait of Hormuz | Trump administration
The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Navy’s top civilian official, John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy, was leaving his post.
In a statement posted on social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was “leaving the administration, effective immediately.”
Hung Cao, the deputy secretary of the Navy, will become acting secretary of the Navy, Parnell said.
Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported that Phelan had been fired by the Pentagon.
Pentagon announces departure of Navy secretary, marking departure of another top leader
The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. and spoke with reporters about his program.
Phelan’s departure also comes just weeks after Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, fired the military’s top officer, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth has also fired several generals, admirals and other defense leaders since taking office last year. As with many other firings, Pentagon officials did not give a reason for Phelan’s departure.
Phelan is leaving just as the US Navy has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting Tehran-linked ships around the world, part of a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war.
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Iranian forces seize two ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid doubts whether peace talks with the United States will continue.
Iranian forces seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as the United States and Iran stepped up efforts to impose separate blockades of the waterway.
The standoff over the strait – through which around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied fossil gas transited in peacetime – has raised doubts about the resumption of stalled peace negotiations.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and lead negotiator, said late Wednesday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be “impossible” as long as the United States and Israel commit “egregious” violations of the ceasefire, including the US naval blockade, “hostage-taking of the global economy” and “Zionist warmongering.”
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Trump Approval Fails in Recent Poll
Three political polls indicate that public approval of Donald Trump’s handling of the U.S. economy, immigration and the Iran conflict is falling, flashing red flags for Trump-aligned Republican candidates six months before the U.S. midterm elections. According to Reuters-Ipsos, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC polls, the president’s approval rating is in the mid-30s, at 36%, 35% and 33% respectively, close to his lowest numbers.
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Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol test
House Democrats have launched a formal investigation into FBI Director Kash Patel’s alleged drinking habits, demanding he conduct a standardized alcohol abuse assessment and submit the results to Congress. Democrats on the committee called on Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (audit) — a 10-question World Health Organization screening tool used to identify harmful drinking habits — as well as a sworn affidavit attesting to his responses. Lawmakers also requested all security clearance questionnaires Patel has filled out since he took office.
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White House poised to provide up to $500 million to save struggling Spirit Airlines
The White House is finalizing a financial package to help struggling US airline Spirit Airlines, which could receive up to $500 million in loans as rising costs continue to weigh on the company. News of the potential deal comes as Spirit and others face soaring fuel costs due to the war with Iran.
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What else happened today:
A catch-up? Here’s what happened April 21, 2026.
