The U.S. Senate confirmed John Phelan as the next Secretary of the Navy with a 62-30 vote.
Phelan, a Florida businessman and private investment firm founder, lacks military experience but secured bipartisan support. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about his lack of Pentagon experience, but Phelan argued his private-sector background would help address the Navy’s challenges, such as cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, and failed audits.
Phelan emphasized the need for reform and committed to reviewing contracts and ensuring a clean audit. He acknowledged concerns over his lack of military service but emphasized his goal to leverage Navy expertise for decisive action. He also focused on the delayed Constellation-class frigate program and pledged to quickly evaluate and address its issues. Phelan’s approach aims to improve Navy operations and tackle long-standing systemic failures.
