Trump Nominates Hung Cao as US Navy Secretary, Praises Performance
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
President Trump announced on Tuesday (September 1) that he is nominating Hung Cao, who has served as acting Navy Secretary since April, to become the permanent Navy Secretary. Trump praised Cao's performance during his four-month interim tenure and called on the Senate to confirm the appointment quickly. Cao, who arrived in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee child, graduated from the US Naval Academy and completed a distinguished 25-year military career. His nomination comes amid broader military leadership changes, following the departure of the previous Navy Secretary John Phelan, who was the first cabinet-level defense official to leave during Trump's second term. Sources indicate Phelan's resignation was partly related to his advocacy for an expensive "Golden Fleet" modernization plan that conflicted with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's vision for a smaller, more affordable naval force.
Key Points
- Trump announced the nomination on social media on September 1, 2026, describing Cao's past four months as acting secretary as "outstanding"
- Cao was born in Vietnam and came to the United States as a refugee before graduating from the US Naval Academy
- He served 25 years on active duty, including as a Naval Special Warfare officer with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan
- At the Pentagon, Cao managed the Navy's $140 billion budget and coordinated a joint counter-terrorism task force with the Department of Homeland Security and FBI
- The previous Navy Secretary John Phelan resigned in April 2026 amid disagreements over his proposed "Golden Fleet" that included expensive "Trump-class" battleships
- Cao has been serving as acting Navy Secretary since April 2026, taking over immediately after Phelan's departure
- The Army Secretary also recently resigned, reportedly due to disagreements with Defense Secretary Hegseth over Army development direction
- The Senate must confirm Cao's nomination before he can assume the permanent position
Why It Matters
The nomination highlights the Trump administration's push to install permanent military leadership after a period of turnover at the cabinet level. Cao's background as a combat veteran and budget manager brings operational experience to a position responsible for overseeing one of the largest branches of the US military. His confirmation would also mark a significant moment for Vietnamese-American representation in senior defense leadership, as he would become the first Vietnamese-American to serve as Navy Secretary .
The nomination highlights the Trump administration's push to install permanent military leadership after a period of turnover at the cabinet level. Cao's background as a combat veteran and budget manager brings operational experience to a position responsible for overseeing one of the largest branches of the US military. His confirmation would also mark a significant moment for Vietnamese-American representation in senior defense leadership, as he would become the first Vietnamese-American to serve as Navy Secretary .