President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao as the permanent Secretary of the Navy on September 1, 2026, calling on the Senate to confirm him quickly [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Cao has served as acting Navy Secretary since late April 2026, after John Phelan unexpectedly left the post around April 30 [2, 6, 3, 4, 5]. Phelan was removed in early 2026 following conflicts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [1, 3, 4].
Alongside Cao’s nomination, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation around August 31 or September 1 amid tensions with Hegseth as well [1, 2, 3, 4]. Cao is a retired Navy captain with 25 years of service, including special operations deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia [1, 2, 5]. Trump described Cao as a "true WARRIOR" and said, "The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP" on social media [1, 2, 4, 5]. Cao thanked Trump and pledged to focus on shipbuilding and homeland defense as priorities [2, 5].
Cao also previously served as Navy undersecretary and supported service members who opposed the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate [2]. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022 and the Senate in 2024 as a Virginia Republican with Trump’s endorsement [5].
The Navy has been conducting a blockade of Iranian ports since the Iran war began in early 2026. The USS Abraham Lincoln has faced an extended nine-month deployment, raising concerns about sailor mental health and supply shortages [1, 2].
Cao took over as acting Navy Secretary about four months ago, continuing through a turbulent period for military leadership [4, 5]. His confirmation hearing before the Senate is expected soon as Trump presses for a prompt appointment [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
