00:02A sudden shake-up at the Pentagon. The Navy's top civilian leader is out.
00:07Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his post effective immediately, according to the Pentagon.
00:13Multiple outlets, including CNN and Fox News, report Phelan was pushed out,
00:18with some sources saying he was given the option to resign or be fired.
00:22The move follows months of reported tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,
00:27including disagreements over shipbuilding and leadership direction.
00:31Undersecretary Hong Kao is now stepping in as acting Navy Secretary.
00:36The departure comes at a crucial moment, with the Navy playing a central role in U.S. operations tied to
00:42the Iran conflict.
00:43Phelan is also the latest in a series of high-level departures across the administration
00:48and had previously faced scrutiny after his name surfaced in records tied to Jeffrey Epstein's private flight logs, according to
00:56CNN.
00:56There is no indication, though, of wrongdoing.
00:59The Pentagon has not given an explanation for his exit.
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