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Trump Nominates Hung Cao as Permanent Navy Secretary

9/2/2026

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Center

Trump Nominates Cao

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao to be permanent Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday.
The nomination was noted amid reports that USS Abraham Lincoln sailors endure prolonged deployment stress during the Iran conflict.
Cao has acted as Navy secretary since April after John Phelan’s unexpected departure.
Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego urged the Pentagon to address mental-health, supply shortages.

Right

Trump Nominates Cao

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to become permanent Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday.
Cao was praised as a “true warrior” and urged for swift Senate confirmation to continue advancing the Navy.
The acting secretary has served since April 22, 2026, after John Phelan resigned.
A retired Navy captain, he served 25 years with special-operations tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia.

Blindspot

Blindspot

Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego urged the Pentagon to address crew mental-health problems and supply shortages on the USS Abraham Lincoln’s nine-month deployment, amid reports of prolonged deployment stress during the Iran conflict.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

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Trump Nominates Cao

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao to be permanent Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday.
The nomination was noted amid reports that USS Abraham Lincoln sailors endure prolonged deployment stress during the Iran conflict.
Cao has acted as Navy secretary since April after John Phelan’s unexpected departure.
Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego urged the Pentagon to address mental-health, supply shortages.

1 / 3