Washington: Senior U.S. officials and insiders revealed yesterday that Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has been fired, marking a major reshuffle at the Department of Defense during wartime.

According to Thai News Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a brief statement saying that Mr. Phelan has been removed from his position with immediate effect, but did not specify a clear reason or clarify whether it was of his own free will.

Anonymous sources indicate that part of the reason for the dismissal stems from delays in implementing reform policies to accelerate the shipbuilding process, as well as conflicts with senior officials within the Department of Defense. Notably, there were strained relationships with Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg. Disagreements with Ng Keo, the Navy's second-highest civilian official, have also been reported. Keo has been appointed as acting Secretary of the Navy in the interim.

Meanwhile, there are reports of an ethics investigation within Phelan's office. Phelan, a billionaire with close ties to President Donald Trump, is being removed from his position as part of a major leadership restructuring within the Department of Defense under the supervision of Mr. Hexeth. This restructuring has already seen several high-ranking officials dismissed.