Trump nominates Hung Cao as Navy Secretary

President Donald Trump has nominated acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent post amid concerns that the Navy is being stretched thin during the Iran conflict and a wave of leadership turnover. Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran and former special operations officer, has led the department as acting secretary since April after John Phelan’s departure; Trump praises him as a “true WARRIOR” and urges swift Senate confirmation. The nomination comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln undertook a record nine-month deployment with reports of worsening crew mental health and shortages of supplies, prompting Democrats to seek Pentagon accountability. Cao has backed the return to duty for service members who resisted the Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine mandate and has drawn attention for the Navy’s handling of a low-altitude Blue Angels incident. The move follows broader turbulence, including the resignations of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and ongoing questions about Pentagon leadership, with Cao having previously run unsuccessfully for Virginia congressional seats. Cao’s prior roles include Navy undersecretary, and his nomination aligns with Trump’s pattern of promoting loyalists while emphasizing experience and combat credentials.