US Navy Secretary nominee Phelan outlines readiness, cost-cutting reforms in Senate hearing

Monday, March 3, 2025

John Phelan, the nominee for United States Secretary of the Navy, presented his plans to address maintenance shortfalls, shipbuilding delays, and personnel challenges within the Navy during his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Phelan emphasized the need for significant reforms to improve fleet readiness, tackle cost overruns, and enhance living conditions for sailors. His nomination has drawn scrutiny due to his lack of military experience.

During John Phelan’s recent Senate confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of the Navy, Senator Rick Scott presented a photograph of the USS Dewey (DDG-105) displaying significant rust during a port visit to Singapore. Scott used the image to highlight maintenance concerns within the Navy, an issue Phelan acknowledged as part of broader systemic challenges. “The U.S. Navy is at a crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates … these are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable,” he said.

Critics of John Phelan’s nomination have expressed concerns primarily centered around his lack of military experience and potential challenges in navigating the complexities of the Department of the Navy. Phelan’s background is rooted in business and finance, with no prior service in the armed forces. This absence of military experience has raised questions about his preparedness to lead a branch as complex as the Navy. Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the defense program at the think tank Center for a New American Security said “It will be difficult for anyone without experience in the Pentagon to take over the leadership of a service and do a good job. Services are sprawling organizations with distinct cultures, subcultures and bureaucratic interests, and where decisions are made through many formal processes. To change a service’s plans, one must understand this Byzantine landscape.”

Supporters of John Phelan’s nomination argue that his business acumen makes him well-suited to address the Navy’s logistical and industrial challenges. Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Roger Wicker highlighted challenges in the Navy’s shipbuilding efforts, stating, “If we threw a zillion dollars at the Department of the Navy today, we couldn’t build the ships because we don’t have the industrial base. We’ve got to fix that. And I think that’s why the president looked to an entrepreneur and an experienced business person.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee would next decide whether to advance Phelan’s nomination to a full Senate vote. If approved by the committee, the Senate would then debate and vote on his confirmation as Secretary of the Navy. A simple majority is required for confirmation.

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