President-elect Donald Trump has nominated businessman John Phelan, who was a major donor to his reelection campaign, to serve as the United States Secretary of the Navy. Phelan, who has never served in the military, runs a private investment firm in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump praised Phelan as a leader who will prioritize the business of the U.S. Navy and advance his “America First” vision. This nomination comes after Trump chose Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard Veteran, to lead the Department of Defense, a move that surprised Pentagon officials due to sexual assault allegations against Hegseth. If confirmed, Phelan would be the first Navy secretary in over a decade without military experience. The secretary of the Navy is required by law to be a civilian who has been out of active military service for seven years.
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