New Navy Under Secretary Cao to ‘supercharge’ force by ditching DEI, raising standards, modernizing IT
Navy Secretary John C Phelan has tapped new Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao to lead a sweeping overhaul of the organization and supercharge the Navy and Marine Corps including modernizing its business and IT systems Cao sworn in Oct by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth returns to the Department of the Navy with direct orders to cut red tape and raise standards Phelan announced in a memo shared exclusively to Fox News Digital that the reforms are to sharpen readiness fix faster and put sailors Marines and their families first as well as restore the Navy and Marine Corps warrior ethos Cao a former U S Navy captain is also a well-known Republican figure who ran for the U S Senate in Virginia in and in was nominated by Trump and ratified as the th Navy under secretary HEGSETH ORDERS ABOUT FACE ON PENTAGON'S SLIPPING GROOMING STANDARDSThe move follows remarks by Hegseth Sept to flag and general officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico First and foremost we must restore a ruthless dispassionate and common-sense application of standards Hesgeth disclosed Standards must be uniform gender-neutral and high If not they re not standards they re suggestions Suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed Cao s reforms will start at home and include launching a new inspection system with -day repair timelines to overhaul military family housing Base dining will shift to healthier locally sourced menus designed to mirror combat readiness and improve nutrition HEGSETH VOWS TO REBUILD MILITARY DETERRENCE SO ENEMIES 'DON'T WANT TO F--- WITH US'Outdated IT and business systems will be replaced with modern mobile-ready platforms to streamline daily operations and empower sailors with tools that work for the first time Beyond quality-of-life upgrades the Navy is targeting full audit compliance by FY to strengthen transparency and accountability Recruiting reforms will eliminate DEI-based waivers in favor of merit-only accessions while reserve forces will integrate more closely with active-duty training pipelines Permanent Change of Station PCS orders will move faster and new policies will expand school choice for military families On Guam infrastructure upgrades from runways to fuel and housing threshold will harden the island s role as a vital Indo-Pacific power-projection hub AIR FORCE TIGHTENS RULES ON TRANSGENDER AIRMEN SUPPORTERS SAY IT PRIORITIZES READINESS RECORD These aren t talking points they re timelines Cao noted of the reforms We re ending bureaucratic drift and restoring excellence Cao s initiatives will also aim to unify family welfare and combat readiness under what Phelan describes as one quarterback one playbook On Capitol Hill Rep Jack Whitfield R-Texas chair of the House Armed Services readiness panel noted Congress would encouragement the Navy s renewed focus on lethality and accountability HEGSETH TELLS TROOPS TO RESIGN IF THEY OPPOSE HIS PLAN TO SCRAP WOKE POLICIES AND RESTORE WARRIOR ETHOSA Democratic staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee called it an overdue reset and endorsed oversight will track results closely The sweeping new portfolio integrates quality-of-service improvements modernization and reserve restructuring under a single chain of command CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This is about speed standards and system Phelan noted When the basics work the first time ships sail more aircraft fly farther and the world s greatest maritime force only gets stronger Hegseth and Phelan did not directly respond to Fox News Digital s request for comment
