Washington: The US Senate confirmed on Monday John Phelan as the new Secretary of the Navy.
During the confirmation vote, 62 senators supported Phelan’s nomination. However, 30 lawmakers opposed this decision.
US President Donald Trump nominated Phelan soon after the presidential election in November 2024. He expressed confidence that the entrepreneur and art collector would bring “incredible knowledge and experience” to elevate the lives of the US servicemen.
During the confirmation hearing in February, some senators expressed concerns that Phelan did not serve in the military and does not know how things are going there. However, the nominee assured lawmakers that his experience of creating and funding large companies would help him lead the Navy. He also conveyed his concerns that the level of munition stockpile in the United States is at a dangerously low level.
Phelan is the first secretary of the Navy without any military experience in 16 years, according to the media reports. The last precedent happened during the George Bush and Barack Obama administrations when businessman Gordon England held this position from 2006-2009.
