Quill Lawrence

Kau is a Navy combat veteran with decades of service.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

California is going through a crisis and we need someone who knows how to govern in crisis.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that Phelan was departing the administration effective immediately.

There was no explanation for the abrupt end to Phelan's tenure just one year into the job.

The Iran war involves some of the Navy's most significant operations in decades, though the Navy secretary's job is more focused on training and equipping the force.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has taken an unusually active role in the recent firings of many general officers, including the Army's top general, over the wishes of the Army secretary.

Phelan had been a major donor to President Trump, but had no military experience before he was appointed.

Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao will now be acting secretary.

Cao is a Navy combat veteran with decades of service.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Yesterday, there was a ceasefire announced between Israel and Lebanon.

Iran then announced it would open the strait for commercial traffic for the duration of that ceasefire, though only along this prescribed route close to the Iranian coast.

But then the U.S.

said it would still maintain its total blockade of Iranian ports while these peace talks continue.

And perhaps in response today, Iran's military said that the strait, no, is closed until the U.S.

lifts the blockade.

So

It's been a confusing 24 hours.

Yeah, it's been a real whiplash.