The United States Senate has confirmed investment banker and Trump donor John Phelan as the 79th Secretary of the United States Navy, Breitbart reported. The 62-30 vote Monday showed bipartisan support as Phelan received all 51 GOP senators plus 11 Democrats.
President Donald Trump nominated Phelan for the job despite his lack of military experience. Instead, Phelan brings his Harvard Business School education and experience with several investment firms to improve the Navy.
I am honored to be confirmed as the 79th Secretary of the Navy. Thank you to President Trump @WhiteHouse for the trust and confidence he has placed in me, and to @SecDef for his steadfast support. It is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to lead the world’s finest Sailors and… pic.twitter.com/p8UyR5d2TN
— Secretary of the Navy (@SECNAV) March 25, 2025
Former President Joe Biden has left the military in shambles after four years in office. After pushing destructive initiatives like diversity, equity, and inclusion and other ridiculous woke agenda items, morale is at a low point for the armed services.
Phelan promised to address several problems as he believes the Navy is at a "crossroads," the businessman said during his Feb. 27 confirmation hearing. He cited several personnel challenges, including poor housing, record-high suicides, and extended deployments for seamen.
There are also equipment problems, including deferred maintenance on existing vessels and delays in building new ships, not to mention ballooning costs. "These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable," Phelan said.
"The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks. … My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it, step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach," he added.
Phelan is expected to be sworn in within the next couple of days. He is the second armed service secretary to take over following Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's confirmation.
Phelan received praise from President Donald Trump, who had high hopes for his time in the Navy leadership. "John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision," Trump said during his nomination in November.
"He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else. John has excelled in every endeavor, from founding and leading Rugger Management LLC to co-founding MSD Capital, LP, the Private Investment Firm for Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies," Trump went on.
"His Record of Success speaks for itself – A true Champion of American Enterprise and Ingenuity!" the president said. Several other lawmakers and officials praised Phelan after his confirmation, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
"Congratulations John Phelan on being Confirmed as the 79th Secretary of the Navy! Looking forward to supporting our warfighters together," Hegseth wrote on X.
Trump is great at choosing the right people to staff his administration even if his choices are sometimes unconventional. It's difficult to know how Phelan will perform since he comes from business and not the government, but perhaps that will make him all the better for it.
