John C. Phelan is leaving the administration, “effective immediately,” the Pentagon has announced US Navy Secretary John C. Phelan has stepped down in an abrupt move announced by the Pentagon without any public explanation or indication that his exit was linked to the naval blockade of Iran. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Phelan was “departing the administration” at once and that Undersecretary Hung Cao would become acting secretary of the Navy. “On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” Parnell said in the statement. No reason for Phelan’s departure was included in the announcement, which was reposted without further comment by Secretary Pete Hegseth. STATEMENT: Secretary of the Navy John C.…