Navy Secretary John Phelan will leave the Trump administration “effective immediately,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced Wednesday, marking the latest departure of a top defense official this year. “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,” Parnell said in a statement posted on X . It was not immediately clear why Phelan will be departing his post. Parnell said that the new acting Secretary of the Navy will be Undersecretary Hung Cao. Phelan’s departure comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out the Army’s top officer and two other Army generals earlier this month. Hegseth ousted the Army chief of Staff, Gen. Randy George. Parnell later confirmed George’s departure, saying the top officer would be “retiring from his position…effective immediately.” Hegseth has removed multiple senior officials he believes are associated with previous administrations.…