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...
Page B2From§Eachthe wee small hours edition — 2 September 2026
Military officials fired under Hegseth as Trump nominates Hung Cao for Navy Secretary, Fox calls him ‘true warrior’
As it ran on the front
Born in the era of the old guard, survived by the promotion list. The military’s norm was a steady ladder, and Hegseth’s tenure clipped six Army officers from the list. Preceded in death by the expectation of continuity, survived by the new order — Trump nominates Hung Cao, and Fox christens him a ‘true warrior’ after four months as acting leader. The fold is the obituary: the officers discharged, the new Secretary installed, and the label handed out by the press as if it were a medal.
The receipts show the shape of the institution: the firing is the death notice, and the nomination is the birth announcement. The names change, but the headline is the same — the leader chooses, and the rank-and-file follow. The boot fits, and the old shoes go out with yesterday’s promotion list.…
…(cont) In lieu of flowers, write your rank and serial number in pencil. Today’s norm is subject to change without notice, and the obituary column gaps only widen. The receipts say this was the way, and the way changes every cycle.
“Six officers get the boot, Trump nominates a ‘true warrior’ after four months as acting leader. If you don’t fit the new uniform, you’re out — and the receipts are stitched into every promotion list.”
“Personnel changes are a sign of strong leadership. If the President wants Hung Cao as Navy Secretary, it’s his prerogative. Firing officers is just part of the process — did I say just part? I meant a necessary step. The military needs fresh faces.”
The receipts
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.
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.