Donald Trump just made his choice official. He wants acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to take the job on a permanent basis.
If you have been watching the Pentagon lately, this move does not come as a total shock. Cao stepped into the interim role back in April after John Phelan walked away abruptly. Phelan brought a billionaire finance and art background to the office, but he lacked actual military experience. Cao brings something entirely different to the table. He is a retired Navy captain and special operations veteran who spent 25 years in uniform.
Trump took to Truth Social to push for a fast Senate confirmation. He called Cao a true warrior who can whip the Navy and Marine Corps into shape. Behind the scenes, the White House wants results on shipbuilding and operational readiness, and they want someone who speaks the language of the armed forces.
From Refugee to Pentagon Leadership
Cao's personal story sets him apart from most Washington bureaucrats. Born in Vietnam, his family fled the country as refugees following the fall of Saigon in 1975. His father worked in the South Vietnamese government, and the family rebuilt their lives in America.
He went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent a quarter-century as a special operations officer. His career included deployments with SEAL teams and special forces units in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After hanging up his uniform, Cao tested the political waters. He ran a hard-fought campaign for the House of Representatives in Virginia back in 2022 and followed it up with a run for the U.S. Senate in 2024. While he lost those legislative bids, he caught the eye of Donald Trump. That loyalty and background landed him the undersecretary job last October before he climbed to the interim secretary position.
The Pressure Mounts on the Water
Trump's push to lock in Cao permanently comes at a heavy time for the military. The Navy is facing intense strain as the conflict with Iran stretches supply lines and keeps sailors deployed for record-breaking stretches.
Take the USS Abraham Lincoln, for instance. The aircraft carrier recently endured a grueling nine-month deployment supporting operations near the Middle East. Stories of exhausted crews, mental health strains, and low supplies have leaked out, drawing sharp questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers want answers about fleet readiness. Trump wants a military leadership that can deliver hardware and keep morale intact without making excuses. Cao has already signaled alignment with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pushing back against conventional defense bureaucracy and handling public controversies—like a viral low-altitude Blue Angels flyover in Florida—with a shrug rather than disciplinary panic.
What Happens Next in the Senate
The nomination now heads to the Senate, where confirmation battles are rarely boring. Democrats have already voiced skepticism over military management and the human cost of current deployments. However, with a Republican-backed push and a clear mandate from the White House, Cao's supporters expect a smooth ride through committee.
If confirmed, Cao will have to prove that a combat veteran can fix the deep structural delays plaguing American shipbuilding. The expectations are massive. The timeline is short. Watch how quickly the Senate moves to put him in the seat for good.
