All articles tagged with #hung cao
Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and former Virginia Senate candidate who has criticized diversity initiatives and publicized controversial statements about “alpha” recruits, has been named acting Navy secretary after Peter Pehlan’s firing. Cao rise comes as the Navy prioritizes shipbuilding amid Strait of Hormuz duties and ongoing political scrutiny; it’s unclear whether he’ll be nominated to the permanent post.
Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and former Virginia Senate candidate, was elevated from Navy undersecretary to acting Navy secretary after President Trump ousted John Phelan; Cao is focusing on shipbuilding priorities amid Iran-related naval activity, and his past stance against DEI policies, along with questions about a permanent nomination, shape how long he’ll lead the Navy.
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.
Hung Cao, a Vietnam refugee and Navy veteran, has assumed acting Navy secretary duties after John Phelan’s departure. A Trump appointee who has advocated rolling back DEI policies and vaccine-mandate accommodations, Cao has also pushed to modernize base infrastructure and raise recruiting standards. He urges a rethink of naval warfare, pressing for faster shipbuilding and advanced tech to counter threats like hypersonics, noting fleet readiness around 60%. Cao’s background includes active-duty service as a diver and EOD, leading the JFK Jr. recovery, and two Virginia campaigns; he fled Vietnam as a child and later earned advanced degrees and fellowships.
Navy Secretary John Phelan has left his post effective immediately; Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary. Phelan’s departure comes amid a wave of recent high-profile exits in the Trump administration, with the Navy continuing to engage in Iran-related operations and pursuing fleet-expansion goals.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan abruptly resigns from the Trump administration effective immediately; Hung Cao will assume acting leadership of the Navy, with no reason given for the departure. The move comes as the Navy enforces a blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil-shipping chokepoint in the broader confrontation with Iran.
Navy Secretary John Phelan resigns unexpectedly after about a year in the role; Undersecretary Hung Cao will serve as acting secretary. Phelan, a Trump-era appointee, steered controversial shipbuilding decisions (including the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate) but struggled to lift overall ship construction. Feinberg has recently assumed more control over submarine programs, with the OMB overseeing shipbuilding. The departure comes ahead of a major defense budget push that could expand Navy programs, including a proposed new “Golden Fleet” of battleships.
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed retired Navy Capt. Hung Cao in the Virginia Republican Senate race. Cao, who has raised over $2 million, is competing against four other Republicans to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Despite Cao's fundraising success, he faces significant challenges in a state that leans Democratic and where Kaine has raised $13 million.