Trump Nominates Hung Cao as Navy Secretary Amid Fleet Strain Concerns

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent job, elevating a combat veteran to lead the force at a moment when critics say sailors are being pushed past their limits during the war with Iran.

Cao has run the Navy on an acting basis since John Phelan left the post abruptly in late April without public explanation, according to Independent US Politics and The Guardian. Unlike Phelan, who had no military background or civilian leadership role in the service, Cao spent 25 years in the Navy as a special operations officer, deploying alongside SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, both outlets reported. The Hill reported Cao immigrated to the United States in 1975, enlisted as a Navy seaman recruit in 1989, and was commissioned as a special operations officer through the Naval Academy in 1996. In 1999, he led the team that recovered the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette after their plane went down near Martha's Vineyard, according to Independent US Politics.

A Career Built on Combat and Loyalty

Trump announced the pick on Truth Social, writing that he was "pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR" and pressing the Senate "to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP," according to Independent US Politics and The Hill. Cao responded that it was "an honor of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team," the outlets reported.

Cao previously served as Navy undersecretary, where he pushed to reinstate service members who had refused the Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to Independent US Politics and The Guardian. He also defended a low pass by the Blue Angels demonstration squadron over a crowded Florida beach in July that sent chairs and tents flying, the outlets reported. Cao lost Senate and House races in Virginia in 2024 and 2022 despite Trump's endorsement. During his 2024 Senate campaign against Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Cao criticized diversity efforts in the military and told The Associated Press, according to Independent US Politics, "If you want somebody to go in and kick some tail, I'm your guy that's going to get this done."

Strain on the Fleet

The nomination lands as Democratic lawmakers accuse the administration of overtaxing the Navy. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln logged a record stretch of continuous time at sea during a nine-month deployment supporting the Iran war, according to Independent US Politics and The Guardian. The Hill reported the ship faced scrutiny over moldy showers, rotten food, and multiple sailors attempting to jump overboard; Trump dismissed the allegations at the time as a "CNN fake report." Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., have demanded accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, according to Independent US Politics and The Guardian.

Cao's elevation also comes amid broader turnover in military leadership. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this week following reported friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Independent US Politics reported. Cao still needs Senate confirmation, though Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has already voiced support, according to The Hill.