Trump nominates Hung Cao as permanent Navy Secretary amid Iran war readiness concerns
President Donald Trump announced on September 2, 2026, via Truth Social that he is nominating Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to become the permanent Secretary of the Navy. Cao, a retired Navy captain and former Republican congressional candidate from Virginia, has served in the acting role since April 2026 after John Phelan was fired. The nomination requires Senate confirmation and comes amid concerns about military readiness due to the ongoing Iran war.
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Hung Cao needs special congressional waiver to become Navy secretary
President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao for the full-time position of Navy secretary, but Cao requires a special waiver from Congress due to federal law. Under 10 U.S.C. §8013, former military officers must wait seven years after retirement before taking top civilian Pentagon jobs. Cao, a Navy captain and former special operations officer, retired in 2021, only five years ago. The waiver requires 60 votes in the Senate, giving Democrats a potential filibuster opportunity. The House also gets involved, providing rare veto power over a senior personnel pick. Congress is largely out of session until the November midterms, with the Senate in session only three weeks and the House one week before Nov. 3. This could delay the confirmation process for months. The law was changed in 2021 following waivers for Generals Mattis and Austin as defense secretaries. Only one such waiver had been granted since 1947, to General George Marshall during the Korean War.
Hung Cao needs special waiver from Congress to become Navy secretary
President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao for the full-time position of Navy secretary, but Cao requires a special waiver from Congress due to a federal law requiring a seven-year waiting period for former military officers to assume top civilian Pentagon jobs. Cao, a Navy captain and former special operations officer, retired in 2021, only five years ago. The waiver requires 60 votes in the Senate to advance, giving Democrats an opportunity to filibuster. Congress will be largely out of session until the November midterms, potentially delaying the confirmation process for months. The law was changed in 2021 following waivers for Generals Mattis and Austin to serve as Secretary of Defense. Only one such waiver had been granted since 1947, to General George Marshall during the Korean War.
Read sourceHung Cao needs special waiver from Congress to become Navy secretary
President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao as the full-time Navy secretary on September 8, 2026. Cao has served in an acting role since John Phelan's departure in April. However, Cao faces a legal hurdle: under 10 U.S.C. §8013, former military officers must wait seven years after retirement before serving as service secretaries. Cao retired as a Navy captain in 2021, only five years ago. The waiver requires 60 votes in the Senate, giving Democrats an opportunity to filibuster. Congress is largely out of session until the November midterms, with the Senate in session only three weeks and the House one week before November 3. Representative Rob Wittman noted the process can be done but must start immediately. Cao acknowledged the nomination on September 1, calling it an honor to lead Navy and Marine Corps warriors.
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Hung Cao needs special waiver from Congress to become Navy Secretary
President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao for the full-time position of Secretary of the Navy, but Cao requires a special waiver from Congress under 10 U.S.C. §8013, which mandates a seven-year waiting period before former military officers can hold top civilian Pentagon jobs. Cao, a Navy captain and former special operations officer, retired in 2021, only five years ago. Elaine Luria, a Navy veteran and congressional candidate, highlighted the rule. The waiver needs 60 Senate votes to advance, giving Democrats a potential filibuster opportunity. Congress is largely out of session until the November midterms, with the Senate in session for only three weeks and the House for one week before Nov. 3, potentially delaying the confirmation process for months. Rep. Rob Wittman acknowledged the challenge but expressed optimism. Cao has been in the acting role since former Navy Secretary John Phelan's departure in April.
Hung Cao needs special congressional waiver to become Navy secretary
President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao as the full-time Navy secretary on September 8, 2026. Cao has served in an acting role since John Phelan's departure in April. However, under 10 U.S.C. §8013, former military officers must wait seven years after retirement before assuming certain top civilian Pentagon posts. Cao retired as a Navy captain in 2021, only five years ago, making him ineligible without a waiver. The waiver requires 60 votes in the Senate, giving Democrats a potential filibuster opportunity. The House also has rare veto power over the pick. Congress is largely out of session until the November midterms, with only three weeks of Senate session and one week of House session before November 3. Representative Rob Wittman noted the process can be done but must start immediately. Cao acknowledged the nomination on September 1, expressing gratitude for leading Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
Trump nominates Hung Cao, acting Navy secretary, to fill role permanently
President Donald Trump announced on September 2, 2026, via Truth Social that he is nominating Hung Cao to become the full-time U.S. Navy secretary. Cao, a former Virginia Senate candidate and special operations veteran, has served as acting Navy secretary since April 2026, when his predecessor John Phelan was fired. In his acting role, Cao outlined a vision focused on 'alpha males and alpha females,' expanding the fleet with a high- and low-mix of ships under the 'Golden Fleet' concept, and advancing programs like the F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter and the Navy Medium Landing Ship. He also established a Department of the Navy Communication Strategy to build public trust. Cao is a Vietnamese refugee who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, served 25 years in the military deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and holds a master's degree in physics. He previously ran an unsuccessful 2024 Senate campaign against Sen. Tim Kaine, criticizing diversity and inclusion efforts. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.
Read sourceTrump nominates Hung Cao, acting Navy secretary, to full-time role
President Donald Trump announced on September 2, 2026, via Truth Social that he is nominating Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to become the permanent Navy secretary. Cao, a former Virginia Senate candidate and special operations veteran, took over the acting role in April 2026 after John Phelan was fired. Trump praised Cao as a 'true warrior' and patriot. Cao previously served as under secretary of the Navy and outlined a vision focused on 'alpha males and alpha females,' shipbuilding, and the F/A-XX sixth-generation aircraft. He also established a Department of the Navy Communication Strategy. Cao came to the U.S. as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975, graduated from the Naval Academy, served 25 years in the military, and holds a master's degree in physics. He lost the 2024 Senate race to Sen. Tim Kaine after criticizing diversity efforts. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.
Read sourceTrump nominates Hung Cao, acting Navy secretary and former Senate candidate, for permanent role
President Donald Trump announced on September 3, 2026, via Truth Social that he is nominating Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to become the permanent U.S. Navy secretary. Cao, a Vietnamese refugee who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 25 years in special operations, took over the acting role in April 2026 after John Phelan was fired. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2024, campaigning against diversity and inclusion efforts in the military. As acting secretary, Cao outlined a vision focused on 'alpha males and alpha females,' improving shipbuilding, delivering the F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter, and establishing a new communication strategy to build public trust. The nomination requires Senate confirmation before Cao can assume the full-time position.
Trump nominates Navy veteran Hung Cao to lead the service as top civilian
President Donald Trump announced he is nominating Navy veteran Hung Cao to become the Secretary of the Navy, the service's top civilian leadership position. The role has been vacant since John Phelan was removed from the post in the spring. Cao, a former Navy officer, would oversee the Department of the Navy, including the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, if confirmed by the Senate. The nomination fills a key leadership gap in the Department of Defense as the administration continues to shape its military leadership team.
Read sourceTrump to nominate Hung Cao as permanent Navy Secretary amid Iran war readiness concerns
President Donald Trump will nominate acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the position on a permanent basis, according to a post from an X account. The nomination comes at a time when the ongoing Iran war has raised concerns about the impact on personnel and readiness within the US armed forces. Hung Cao has been serving in an acting capacity, and this move would formalize his role as the head of the Department of the Navy. The announcement highlights the administration's focus on military leadership continuity during a period of active conflict. The Iran war has reportedly strained US military resources, prompting questions about troop morale, equipment availability, and overall combat readiness. Cao's permanent appointment is seen as a step to stabilize leadership in the Navy amid these challenges. The post does not provide additional details on the timeline for the nomination or confirmation process.
Read sourceTrump Nominates Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for Permanent SECNAV Role
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is nominating Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to become the permanent Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Cao as a 'true WARRIOR' and 'Patriot,' urging the Senate to confirm him 'ASAP' to continue leading the Navy and Marine Corps. Cao has been serving in an acting capacity, and this nomination would make his position permanent. The announcement underscores Trump's emphasis on military leadership and his desire for swift confirmation of his nominee. The source is USNI News, a reputable defense-focused outlet.
Read sourceTrump Nominates Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for Permanent SECNAV Role
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is nominating Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to become the permanent Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Cao as a 'true WARRIOR' and 'Patriot,' emphasizing the need for leaders like him to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps remain the 'FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen.' Trump urged the Senate to confirm Cao 'ASAP' so he can continue his work. Hung Cao has been serving as the acting secretary and is now the president's formal pick to lead the Department of the Navy, overseeing both the Navy and Marine Corps. The nomination requires Senate confirmation to become permanent.
Read sourcePresident Trump nominates Hung Cao to become Secretary of the Navy
President Donald Trump has nominated Hung Cao to serve as the next Secretary of the Navy, according to a post on X. The announcement was made via the President's social media account, stating the nomination without additional details. Hung Cao is a retired Navy captain and former Republican congressional candidate from Virginia. The nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. This appointment would place Cao at the head of the Department of the Navy, overseeing the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The post did not include a timeline for the confirmation process or any policy priorities for the nominee.