From campaign trail to hangar deck: Hung Cao named acting Navy secretary

Hung Cao, a former Republican candidate and Trump ally, is named acting Navy secretary and has earned credibility inside the Pentagon for shipbuilding and crisis management, with White House backing; his elevation comes as Phelan departs amid a challenging period for the Navy’s fleet goals and global tensions with Iran and China, while Democrats raise concerns about his temperament and there is no immediate permanent nomination announced.