Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and special operations veteran, has led the Department of the Navy for four months as President Trump now seeks Senate confirmation.
Page B1From§Eachthe wee small hours edition — 2 September 2026
Military officials fired or resigned under Hegseth as Trump taps Navy Secretary in four-month shuffle
Born in a time when service meant a steady hand, the military now sees its leadership turn over in four-month cycles. Fired, resigned, removed — the names leave as fast as they arrive. Under Hegseth, six Army officers are struck from promotion lists, and Trump taps Hung Cao as Navy Secretary, the second nomination in the span of weeks. Preceded in death by the notion of institutional continuity, survived by the press release promising accountability. The obituary for stable command is written in the personnel files left behind. In lieu of flowers, send a memo to the next nominee: the seat is still warm. The only thing enduring is the shuffle itself, and the rules of engagement are redrawn with every new signature.
“They run through military leaders like socks, and Trump's pick for Navy Secretary is another plot twist in a four-month shuffle. The folks in charge keep changing, but the policy never does. If you're in uniform, your boss is a moving target, and the only thing stable is the turnover.”
“This is just the normal process of leadership renewal. Sometimes, military officials need to be replaced to ensure accountability and effectiveness. Trump’s nomination is proof of decisive action. Did I say decisive? Maybe it's more about keeping up appearances. Or keeping the base happy.”
The receipts
President Trump said on Tuesday he would be nominating Hung Cao for Navy Secretary after the predecessor to the role stepped down in April. The president announced his pick on Truth Social Tuesday night, saying “We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps, and I can think of no one better than...
At least 20 generals, admirals and civilian defense leaders have been fired or have departed their jobs since Pete Hegseth became defense secretary at the beginning of the second Trump administration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spiked the names of at least six Army officers from a list for promotions to two-star generals, a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Hill Tuesday. The removals come just days after the Pentagon chief blocked promotions of four Army officers selected to ascend to…
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.