Trump Nominates Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for Permanent Role Amid Navy Strain

POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to nominate acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent position. This decision comes as the Navy faces scrutiny over the strain on sailors during the ongoing Iran conflict.

Cao has been fulfilling the role of acting Navy Secretary since John Phelan’s unexpected departure in late April. Unlike his predecessor, Cao boasts a 25-year career in the Navy, including service as a special operations officer and with SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump expressed his satisfaction with the nomination on social media, referring to Cao as a “true WARRIOR” and urging the Senate to confirm him “ASAP.” Cao himself described the nomination as the “honor of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team.” on social media.

The nomination arrives amid growing concerns, particularly from Democratic lawmakers, about the overextension of the Navy. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier’s nine-month deployment in support of the Iran war has set a record for uninterrupted time at sea, raising alarms about crew mental health and supply shortages.

Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona are among those calling for accountability from the Pentagon regarding the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Cao, previously serving as Navy undersecretary, has been a vocal supporter of returning service members who refused a COVID-19 vaccine mandate during the Biden era and has defended the Navy’s Blue Angels’ controversial low-altitude flight over a Florida beach.

Cao’s nomination also coincides with a period of significant change within the U.S. military’s upper echelons. Notably, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this week, following reports of discord with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)