Navy Secretary John Phelan is fired and replaced by Undersecretary Hung Cao.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan, with the Pentagon announcing his departure as effective immediately. Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao was named acting secretary. The firing occurred one day after Phelan addressed the Navy's annual conference and spoke with reporters about ongoing Navy priorities.
47
Divergence score
This event sits in the top 6% of divergence this week. 9 outlets covered it, splitting into 8 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
8 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 9 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
PBS NewsHour
CNN
Wall Street Journal
Reuters
Axios
Washington Post
Al Jazeera
NY Post
The Hill
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
The split, in one line
Some outlets frame this as Hegseth firing Phelan amid wartime military purges; others use neutral departure language; Al Jazeera foregrounds the US-Israeli war on Iran context; NY Post pins the cause on Golden Fleet mismanagement.
How each outlet covered it
Two readings of the same facts
The left and the right lead with different language. The loaded words each chose are highlighted.
47DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Trump fires Navy Secretary with Iran talks looming, DHS 'sugar baby' sparks security concerns”NYP NY Post RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving, Pentagon says, in latest departure of a top defense leader” · PBS NewsHour, Reuters, Axios, Al Jazeera
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 9 outlets put it
LEFT2
CNNCNN US Navy Secretary Phelan ousted as naval blockade of Iran continues 71d ago WPWashington Post John Phelan forced out as Navy secretary after 13 months 71d ago CENTER4
PBSPBS NewsHour Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving, Pentagon says, in latest departure of a top defense leader 72d ago RReuters US Navy Secretary Phelan fired, sources say 71d ago AAxios Pete Hegseth fires U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan 71d ago HThe Hill Navy secretary's removal points to Trump’s anxiety over shipbuilding 70d ago Tracked claims from across the political spectrum
Fact ledger
Corroborated
Disputed