Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao is testifying before a House subcommittee hearing Thursday, where he will likely face questions over President Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch live in the player above..
Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House in Virginia, stepped in to lead the department after the departure of former Navy Secretary John Phelan, who unexpectedly left the post in April.
No reason was given for Phelan’s departure, which came as the sea service imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and was targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war.
Phelan’s departure is the latest in a series of shakeups of top leadership at the Pentagon, coming just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth also has fired several other top generals, admirals and defense leaders since taking office last year. Senators have pressed Hegseth on the firings in the last several weeks during hearings about Trump’s military budget request.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
