The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed John Falan's departure from the position of Secretary of the Navy. His resignation marks another change of a high-ranking military official following the rise to power of Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The U.S. Department of Defense has officially announced the resignation of John Falan, who held the position of Secretary of the Navy. He has become yet another high-ranking American military official to leave his post following the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that Falan is leaving his position immediately. His duties will be temporarily performed by Deputy Hung Kao.
The news of Falan's resignation comes amid the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, despite a declared ceasefire. The U.S. Navy continues its maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump insists on continuing the blockade of Iran. However, Iranian authorities view these actions as a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The reasons for Falan's dismissal have not been disclosed by the U.S. Navy. Earlier, in early April, Defense Secretary Hegseth had already dismissed the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Randy George.
Since Trump's return to the White House, more than ten high-ranking military officials have lost their positions. Among them are Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife, and Director of Military Intelligence Jeffrey Cruz.
'Gold Fleet': Who is Falan and What the Media Says About His Dismissal
John Falan was not a career military officer. Before his appointment as Secretary of the Navy, he led a private investment fund based in Florida.
The New York Times reminds us that President Donald Trump once called him "one of the most successful businessmen in the country."
At a press conference announcing Falan's appointment, Trump emphasized his motivation: "He probably got this job with the largest pay cut in history, but he wants to do it. He wants to rebuild our Navy. And to do that properly, we need brains like his."
According to the publication, during his tenure as head of the Navy, Falan actively worked on creating the so-called 'Gold Fleet.' This project involved significant investments in building new ships, including Trump-class battleships.
President Trump had previously stated that he approved the construction of two new battleships. In the long term, it was planned to build up to 25 such vessels.
Last December, the U.S. President proudly noted: "They will be the fastest, the largest, and certainly 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built."
However, according to the New York Times, citing anonymous officials, Falan's activities in the department were overshadowed by constant conflicts. Disagreements arose with the senior leadership of the Pentagon, including Defense Secretary Hegseth and Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg.
The publication notes that the reasons for the strained relations were "management style, personal disagreements, and other issues." CNN sources also confirm that Falan and Hegseth clashed for several months.
The Pentagon chief, among other things, believed that Falan was moving too slowly in implementing the shipbuilding program. The Defense Secretary also expressed dissatisfaction with Falan's direct contacts with President Trump, viewing it as an attempt to bypass him.
According to CNN, Deputy Secretary of Defense Feinberg is also seeking to control the shipbuilding process. This task traditionally falls under the purview of the Secretary of the Navy.
Sources from the New York Times confirm this information, pointing to Feinberg's desire for greater influence in this area.
