President Donald Trump announced on September 1, 2026, the nomination of Hung Cao as the official Secretary of the U.S. Navy, after Cao had served as acting Secretary since April 2026 following the resignation of John Phelan [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Trump praised Cao as "a true warrior" and urged the Senate to expedite confirmation so Cao could continue his work without delay [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Cao, a Vietnamese refugee who immigrated as a child, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 and served over 20 years in the Navy, retiring as a Colonel [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. He deployed as a special operations officer to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia during his military career [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Before becoming acting Secretary, Cao served as Navy Deputy Secretary and took over the acting post after Phelan resigned unexpectedly in April 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Since then, Cao has prioritized shipbuilding programs and improving sailors' quality of life amid extended naval deployments related to the ongoing Iran conflict [1, 2]. In August, he met with families of USS Abraham Lincoln crew members to address concerns about deteriorating conditions during the carrier's record nine-month deployment [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Congressional and external observers have expressed concerns over psychological health and material shortages among sailors on the Abraham Lincoln during its prolonged mission [3, 4, 5, 6].
After retiring from the Navy, Cao ran twice unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for Congress and Senate in Virginia [1, 2]. Trump hailed Cao's leadership, stating, "I am honored to nominate a true warrior," while Cao said, "Being able to lead the great warrior team of the Navy and Marine Corps is the greatest honor of my life" [1, 3]. Cao’s nomination comes amid turnover in U.S. military leadership, including the recent resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, reportedly linked to tensions within the War Department [3, 5, 6].
The Senate confirmation process for Cao will be closely watched given the Navy’s current operational pressures and the strategic importance of stable leadership. Cao’s confirmation hearing is expected in the coming weeks.
