Trump’s Navy Secretary Pick Faces Scrutiny, Lack of Experience

Trump’s Navy Secretary Pick Faces Scrutiny, Lack of Experience \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump has nominated John Phelan, a private investor with no military or defense leadership experience, as secretary of the Navy. Experts question whether Phelan can effectively address the Navy’s pressing challenges, including fleet expansion and preparing for potential conflict with China. Critics warn that his lack of experience may hinder Trump’s ambitious naval goals during a pivotal time for the service.

John Phelan’s Nomination: Quick Looks

• Nominee Overview: John Phelan, a Trump donor and investment firm founder, lacks military or defense leadership experience.
• Critical Timing: The Navy faces a shrinking fleet, growing global deployments, and heightened tensions with China.
• Challenges Ahead: Phelan will navigate bureaucratic hurdles, an uncertain budget, and urgent shipbuilding needs.
• Expert Concerns: Defense analysts worry his inexperience could delay reforms and readiness.
• Trump’s Naval Goals: Trump’s call for a 350-ship Navy confronts logistical and budgetary obstacles.
• Broader Implications: The nomination reflects Trump’s focus on disruptors but raises questions about execution.

Deep Look

Trump’s Nominee: John Phelan

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of John Phelan as the next secretary of the Navy has sparked debate about the qualifications needed to lead one of the country’s most vital military branches. Phelan, a major Trump campaign donor and founder of the private investment firm Rugger Management LLC, has no prior military service or defense leadership experience.

Trump announced Phelan’s nomination late Tuesday, praising his business acumen. However, Phelan’s primary exposure to military matters stems from his advisory role with Spirit of America, a nonprofit organization supporting Ukraine and Taiwan.

Concerns Over Inexperience

Experts warn that Phelan’s lack of defense experience could hinder his ability to address the Navy’s pressing challenges, including fleet modernization, global deployments, and preparations for a potential conflict with China.

“It will be difficult for anyone without experience in the Pentagon to take over the leadership of a service and do a good job,” said Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security. “Services are sprawling organizations with distinct cultures, subcultures, and bureaucratic interests. To change a service’s plans, one must understand this Byzantine landscape.”

Challenges Facing the Navy

The Navy is stretched thin, with fewer than 300 battle-force ships to cover deployments in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Trump’s goal of expanding the fleet to 350 ships, which he first proposed in 2016, has been hampered by logistical, budgetary, and bureaucratic hurdles.

“The Navy is operating in a shrinking fleet environment with expanding overseas commitments and an uncertain budget,” said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Even if the defense budget increases, the funds available for shipbuilding will be relatively small. If the budget stays steady or decreases, the Navy will face significant challenges.”

Implications for U.S.-China Relations

The Navy’s readiness is crucial as tensions with China escalate, particularly over Taiwan. Experts emphasize that the service must prepare for potential military confrontations in the Taiwan Strait and beyond.

“The stakes are high,” said Brad Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “The success or failure in addressing key problems in the U.S. Navy over the next couple of years may have a decisive effect on war and peace in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere.”

Trump’s Disruptor Approach

Phelan’s nomination aligns with Trump’s preference for appointing outsiders to shake up traditional bureaucracies. For instance, Trump has tapped SpaceX founder Elon Musk to co-lead a nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency. However, critics argue that while a disruptor may identify inefficiencies, the military’s deeply entrenched processes require nuanced understanding and Congressional navigation to enact meaningful change.

“It might help that he has a personal relationship with the president,” Cancian said. “However, his lack of experience in defense and the Pentagon will hurt the Navy. It will take him a while to learn the levers of power.”

Internal and External Pressures

Beyond expanding the fleet, Phelan will need to address pressing operational issues. The Marine Corps, for example, has called for 31 amphibious warships to maintain a close-to-shore presence globally. The Navy has also been forced to extend deployments of aircraft carriers and destroyers due to instability in regions like the Middle East, creating a ripple effect on maintenance schedules and personnel retention.

“Each deployment extension leaves ships under-maintained and sailors tired,” Cancian explained. “This unpredictability affects their families and leads to service members leaving the Navy.”

The secretary of the Navy must also navigate frequent Congressional hearings, budget negotiations, industry conferences, and internal policy reviews. Experts warn that Phelan’s lack of familiarity with these processes could result in delays and inefficiencies during his tenure.

A Critical Moment for the Navy

Phelan steps into the role at a time when the Navy is not only central to U.S. defense strategy but also facing unique challenges:

• Shrinking Fleet: The Navy has fewer ships than required for its global commitments, making it harder to balance strategic needs.
• Budget Constraints: Shipbuilding costs are rising, and future budgets may limit expansion efforts.
• China’s Naval Power: The Chinese Navy has surpassed the U.S. Navy in sheer numbers, forcing the U.S. to rethink its approach.

Broader Implications

The nomination highlights Trump’s focus on loyalty and disruptive leadership over traditional qualifications. While Phelan’s background as a successful investor may bring a fresh perspective to the role, his lack of defense expertise raises concerns about the Navy’s ability to adapt to a rapidly evolving global security environment.

Experts caution that successful leadership in the military requires not only vision but also deep institutional knowledge to overcome bureaucratic resistance and secure lasting change.

More on Elections