Trump nominates Hung Cao as Navy secretary

President Donald Trump announced on September 1, 2026, his nomination of acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to the permanent role. Cao, a Vietnamese refugee and 30-year Navy veteran, has led the service since April 2026 following the firing of John Phelan. The nomination comes amid significant Pentagon turnover, including the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and concerns over military readiness during the war with Iran.

Hung Cao Navy secretary nomination

• ▪Hung Cao has served as the acting civilian head of the United States Navy since April 2026
• ▪Hung Cao expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for the nomination, stating his commitment to shipbuilding and homeland defense
• ▪The nomination of Hung Cao comes amid concerns over the impact of the war involving Iran on United States military personnel and readiness
• ▪President Donald Trump announced on September 1, 2026, that he would nominate acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to serve in the role on a permanent basis
• ▪President Donald Trump urged the United States Senate to quickly confirm Hung Cao as the permanent Secretary of the Navy

Pentagon leadership departures

• ▪Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed former Navy Secretary John Phelan in April 2026 following months of tension with other Pentagon leaders
• ▪General Christopher Donahue left his post as the United States Army's commander in Europe and Africa in June 2026 after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth downgraded his command
• ▪United States Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump on August 31, 2026
• ▪General Randy George, the United States Army's top officer, was abruptly asked to step down from his role and retire in April 2026

Cao's military career

• ▪Hung Cao, a Vietnamese refugee who immigrated to the United States with his family, served in the United States Navy for over 30 years before retiring in 2021
• ▪During his military career, Hung Cao served as a United States Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer, deploying to Iraq and Somalia

Cao's political campaigns

• ▪Hung Cao ran an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate in 2024, losing to Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia
• ▪Hung Cao ran an unsuccessful campaign as a Republican candidate for Virginia's 10th Congressional District in 2022

Cao's military recruitment and DEI views

• ▪During a 2024 debate with Senator Tim Kaine, Hung Cao stated that military recruitment should focus on highly resilient individuals who are 'going to rip out their own guts.'
• ▪During his 2024 Senate campaign, Hung Cao criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within United States military recruitment

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