Trump Fires Navy Secretary John Phelan Over Battleship Program Delays

President Trump has removed Navy Secretary John Phelan after the official failed to deliver on the president's top military priority: a new fleet of battleships.

Phelan served just over a year in his post. He had helped create the battleship program specifically to please Trump, according to people familiar with the situation. But the president wanted the first ship ready by 2028, a timeline military experts called nearly impossible.

The firing came after months of Pentagon infighting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg campaigned against Phelan behind the scenes. They told Trump that the Navy secretary was failing to manage the battleship program properly.

Battleships haven't been used by the U.S. Navy since the 1990s. The massive warships are expensive to build and operate. Modern naval warfare typically relies on aircraft carriers and smaller, faster ships.

The ouster highlights Trump's hands-on approach to military matters and his willingness to fire officials who don't meet his expectations.