{"id":85994,"date":"2025-02-27T18:23:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T18:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/02\/27\/navy-secretary-nominee-blasts-systemic-failures-plaguing-the-fleet\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:54:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:54:11","slug":"navy-secretary-nominee-blasts-systemic-failures-plaguing-the-fleet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/02\/27\/navy-secretary-nominee-blasts-systemic-failures-plaguing-the-fleet\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy secretary nominee blasts \u2018systemic failures\u2019 plaguing the fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s pick to lead the Navy<\/a> on Thursday asserted that the service is in desperate need of reform, and promised to bring his outside business experience to the task of refocusing and reenergizing naval operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d businessman John Phelan <\/a>told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing for the top civilian Navy post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phelan, founder of the private investment firm Rugger Management and a major donor for Trump\u2019s reelection campaign, acknowledged lawmakers\u2019 concerns about his lack of military experience during his appearance before the committee. He never served in the ranks and has not been involved with civilian management of the military forces<\/a> in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\t