President-elect Donald Trump has selected businessman John Phelan as his nominee for U.S. Navy secretary, praising Phelan’s extensive private sector experience as invaluable for overseeing the Navy’s $255 billion annual budget. Trump stated, “John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Service members, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision. He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else.”
Phelan, who co-founded MSD Capital and led Rugger Management LLC, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Trump expressed confidence that Phelan’s leadership and expertise will deliver tangible results for the Navy and the nation, calling him “a true champion of American enterprise and ingenuity.”
Notably, Phelan did not serve in the military but was a major donor to the Trump campaign. He will be taking over from Carlos Del Toro, who has been serving as the Navy secretary since 2021.
The U.S. Navy, with an annual budget exceeding $255 billion and more than 1 million personnel, both civilian and military, plays a crucial role in national defense and security.
