In a pivotal shift for the Navy and a win for the administration, President Trump donor and successful businessman John Phelan has been confirmed as the next U.S. Navy Secretary.
See the tweet below.
This confirmation brings much-needed business acumen to a military branch plagued by failed audits and shipbuilding delays.
The Senate approved Phelan in a 62-30 vote despite Democrat concerns about his lack of military experience.
Patriots can celebrate this strategic appointment that promises to restore standards and fiscal responsibility to a branch of service crippled by years of progressive mismanagement.
Phelan, founder and chair of Rugger Management LLC and a former managing partner at MSD Capital, brings extensive business expertise to the Navy’s $250 billion budget and oversees over 1 million personnel.
His confirmation received bipartisan support, with 51 Republicans and 11 Democrats voting in favor, demonstrating confidence in his ability to address systemic issues plaguing the service.
During his confirmation hearings, Phelan did not mince words about the dire state of the Navy under the previous leadership.
He highlighted critical failures that have been ignored while political agendas took precedence over military readiness.
“The U.S. Navy is at crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates,” Phelan stated during his confirmation.
“These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable,” he added.
Unlike the previous administration that prioritized diversity quotas over combat readiness, Phelan specifically condemned the lowering of military eligibility standards.
He underscored the critical importance of maintaining high recruitment standards to ensure America’s naval forces remain the most lethal fighting force in the world.
Predictably, Democrats like Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) raised concerns about Phelan’s investments in defense contractors, suggesting potential conflicts of interest.
This criticism rings hollow considering the Biden administration’s numerous conflicts of interest that went unchallenged by these same lawmakers.
In addition, Phelan masterfully addressed critics who questioned his lack of military experience:
“I understand why some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy. I respect that concern. The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks. My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it, to step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach.”
The Navy is currently without a Chief of Naval Operations following President Trump’s dismissal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who was appointed during the previous administration.
This gives Phelan a clean slate to implement reforms without entrenched resistance from Biden-era appointees.
Phelan’s appointment represents a return to meritocracy and excellence in military leadership after years of progressive policies that weakened our armed forces.
Moreover, the businessman plans to immediately review existing contracts and focus on achieving a clean audit – something the Defense Department has shamefully failed to accomplish for decades while taxpayer dollars disappeared into a bureaucratic black hole.
Even Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledged the potential benefits of Phelan’s appointment, saying, “You’re a nontraditional appointee for this position, and that can be OK if the tradition is not working.”
With China rapidly expanding its naval capabilities and global threats multiplying, Phelan’s confirmation is critical for America’s maritime security.
His business-minded approach promises to restore the Navy’s operational readiness while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent effectively on actual defense capabilities rather than woke social engineering experiments.
👍 Senate Confirms John Phelan as 79th Secretary of the Navy in 62-30 Vote https://t.co/HSkUGQudVc
— Jason Miller (@JasonMiller) March 25, 2025
