President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, September 1, that he is nominating Hung Cao to become the next US Navy secretary.
Hung Cao’s Nomination and Personal Background
Hung Cao’s nomination as the next US Navy secretary was announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. This decision marks a significant step in Cao’s political career.
Cao’s estimated net worth, according to government financial disclosures, ranges between $366,000 and $865,000. He resides in Purcellville, Virginia, with his wife, April Lakata Cao. The couple has two sons and three daughters, including an adopted child from Thailand and twins, all of whom are homeschooled by April. The family is active in their local community, attending Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia.
The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP, so he can continue the fantastic work he has been doing over the past 4 months. Cao has been serving as the acting United States secretary of the navy since April 2026 and as the 35th United States Under Secretary of the Navy from October 2025. He ran as the Republican nominee for Virginia’s 10th congressional district in 2022 and for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
“I am pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR, Hung Cao, to become the next Secretary of the Navy. We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps, and I can think of no one better than him to make sure our Great Navy and Marine Corps remain the FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he wrote on Truth Social .
