In yet another success for President Trump’s administration, businessman and Trump campaign donor John Phelan has been confirmed as Secretary of the Navy despite having no military experience.
See the tweet below.
The Senate voted 62-30 to approve Phelan, who plans to bring his business expertise to tackle the Navy’s widespread failures in shipbuilding, maintenance, and financial management that have festered under previous leadership.
Phelan, founder of Rugger Management LLC and former managing partner at MSD Capital, received bipartisan support from 51 Republicans and 11 Democrats who voted for his confirmation.
As Navy Secretary, he will oversee both the Navy and Marine Corps, managing over one million personnel and a $250 billion budget, positioning him as a key figure in the Trump administration’s military leadership.
During his confirmation hearings, the businessman did not shy away from identifying the severe problems plaguing the Navy.
He highlighted extended deployments, maintenance backlogs, cost overruns, and even record-high suicide rates as urgent issues requiring immediate attention.
“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,” John Phelan said.
He continued, “These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable.”
While critics like Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) raised concerns about his lack of military experience and potential conflicts of interest due to defense contractor investments, Phelan countered that his business background makes him uniquely qualified to address the Navy’s systemic issues.
His appointment represents a major shift from bureaucratic management to results-oriented leadership.
Phelan has been a significant supporter of President Trump, donating nearly $1 million to Trump’s fundraising committee and other Republican campaign committees.
He also hosted a high-profile fundraiser for Trump, demonstrating his commitment to conservative leadership and values.
Many conservatives are celebrating Phelan’s stance on military readiness and recruitment standards.
He criticized the previous administration’s decision to lower military eligibility requirements during his confirmation process.
He emphasized that the Navy needs capable recruits to ensure effective warfighting capabilities – not social experiments that weaken America’s military strength.
Senate Confirms John Phelan As America’s New Navy Secretaryhttps://t.co/r7MEOU32OW
— The Federalist (@FDRLST) March 24, 2025
“I understand why some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy. I respect that concern,” he stated.
“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,” Phelan added..
Phelan has already outlined plans to review existing Navy contracts, achieve a clean audit, and restore accountability to a military branch plagued by mismanagement.
After years of decline, his business-first approach signals a welcome return to fiscal responsibility and operational excellence.
The confirmation comes at a critical time, as the Navy currently lacks a Chief of naval operations following Admiral Lisa Franchetti’s dismissal.
With growing threats from China in the Indo-Pacific region and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, Phelan’s leadership will be crucial to rebuilding America’s naval strength and projecting power around the globe.
