Trump donor John Phelan confirmed as Navy Secretary
The Senate on Monday voted to confirm John Phelan, a private investment firm founder and a major Trump campaign donor, as the next Navy secretary.
The Florida businessman, who has no prior military experience, was confirmed in a 62-30 vote in the full Senate.
While Phelan did not draw outright opposition during his Feb. 27 nomination hearing, some lawmakers expressed unease at his lack of prior military service or management of any civilian sector of the Pentagon.
But Phelan argued that his background made him an ideal candidate to fix the issues that have plagued the Navy such as failed audits, workforce management issues, cost overruns and delays in shipbuilding.
He is the founder and chair of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Florida, and also was the managing partner of MSD Capital, a private equity firm.
Phelan, also a prominent art collector, donated nearly $1 million to Trump's fundraising committee, and nearly a million to other Republican campaign committees, according to public filings. He also held a glitzy fundraiser for Trump at his $38 million Aspen home, charging $25,000-$500,000 per couple, according to The Guardian.
During his confirmation hearing, Phelan promised his outside business experience would help a Navy that desperately needed to be reformed.
“The U.S. Navy is at crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates,” he told he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable.”
He also said that he respects and appreciates “stability and tradition,” but when it “suffocates adaptability, innovation, collaboration and trust, it erodes an organization’s ability to win.”
That line of thinking did not seem to completely win over committee ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who told Phelan that while he clearly has experience managing large companies, “you do not have any significant experience with the U.S. Navy or the military at large.”
“You will have to quickly learn a great deal about a complex organization, including its hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines, while the service faces growing international threats and internal challenges,” Reed said.
Phelan replied that he understands “that some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy” and he respected that concern.
“The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks. My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it to step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach,” he said.
Topics
-
Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor secretary
The Senate on Monday confirmed former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) to lead the Department of Labor, cementing another of President Trump’s nominees in bipartisan fashion. Senators voted 67 to ...The Hill - Mar. 10 -
Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary in bipartisan vote
Democrats joined Republicans in confirming former GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as President Trump's labor secretary.CBS News - Mar. 10 -
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Here's how every senator voted on confirming Trump's top officials
Charts show how each Democratic and Republican senator voted on President Trump's Cabinet picks and selection for FBI director.CBS News - Mar. 12 -
Recapping Trump's meeting with NATO secretary general
The war in Ukraine was a major focus of President Trump's meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Thursday. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small has more.CBS News - Mar. 14 -
Ecuador enlists founder of Blackwater private army as ally in ‘war’ on crime
Daniel Noboa, who is seeking re-election as president, announces partnership with Trump supporter Erik Prince. Ecuador ’s president, Daniel Noboa , has announced a “strategic alliance” with ...The Guardian - Mar. 12 -
NATO secretary, Trump have mostly friendly meeting after criticizing the alliance
President Trump hosted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Thursday. The president has been a vocal critic of the military alliance, which took shape in the aftermath of World ...CBS News - Mar. 13 -
Trump ‘can’t unilaterally dismantle' Dept. of Education without Congress, says fmr. secretary
President Trump signs an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. Former Education Secretary John King Jr. says he expects to see bipartisan support in Congress to maintain ...NBC News - 5d -
GOP senators warn Trump agenda will be slowed by internal divisions
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has cautioned GOP colleagues that the Senate isn’t likely to pass President Trump’s border security, energy and tax agenda until July, at the earliest, ...The Hill - 1d
More from The Hill
-
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Schiff, Ricketts introduce bill targeting group they say was involved in Oct. 7 attack
Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced a bill on Tuesday targeting a group they said was involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel for sanctions. The Accountability ...The Hill - 25m
More in Politics
-
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Senate confirms Trump's nominee to run NIH
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed health researcher Jay Bhattacharya as the next leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya was confirmed on a party line vote, 53 to 47. ...The Hill - 18m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Trump takes aim at Fed
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Trump eyes Fed as tariffs, inflation collide President Trump is zeroing in on the ...The Hill - 21m -
Schiff, Ricketts introduce bill targeting group they say was involved in Oct. 7 attack
Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced a bill on Tuesday targeting a group they said was involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel for sanctions. The Accountability ...The Hill - 25m