Pentagon shake-up: Navy secretary ousted after Trump-aligned push

Yesterday Navy Secretary John Phelan, a billionaire with close Trump ties and no military background, was asked to resign after meetings with lawmakers about Navy ship plans and the Pentagon budget, a move driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and ally Stephen Feinberg. The firing signals a broader push to reshape the Pentagon and military leadership as Trump’s influence remains evident, with coverage noting Hegseth’s crackdown on press independence at Stars and Stripes. The piece also highlights GOP efforts to fund ICE/CBP via budget reconciliation and a push to extend Section 702, alongside a new Astronauts for America group formed by ex-NASA astronauts to defend democratic values.