Hegseth tells Army Secretary to dismiss Col Butler from public affairs position

Changes at the Pentagon Over Army Leadership

Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler from his role as the Army’s director of public affairs. This decision reportedly affects Butler’s involvement in ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Butler, who had previously acted as the public affairs director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Gen. Mark Milley, was on track to receive the Star Award for the first time. His name also appeared on the promotion list for the second consecutive year, which includes 34 military officers chosen for advancement.

This promotion list has been stalled for nearly four months. Hegseth has expressed concerns regarding several officers on the list, who cannot be removed due to legal constraints. Army officials mentioned that Butler offered to step back from the promotion list if it could facilitate the progress of other promotions.

Driscoll, an Army veteran and ally of Vice President J.D. Vance, has, until now, resisted Hegseth’s pressure to dismiss Butler, valuing his contributions to the Army’s ongoing transformation efforts.

“I’m incredibly thankful to Col. Dave Butler for his years of dedication to the Army and to our nation,” Driscoll stated. “He has played a key role in transforming the Army, and we wish him the best as he approaches retirement after 28 years.” Butler accompanied Driscoll to Ukraine in November 2025 to assist with negotiations.

Hegseth’s orders were reportedly issued on a Thursday, marking a significant shift in Army leadership.

Upon joining the Pentagon in 2025, Hegseth quickly began to make changes, including the termination or early retirement of several high-ranking officials without public explanation, leading to a climate of uncertainty among military leaders.

One of Butler’s notable roles included serving in Delta Force from 2010 to 2014, participating in numerous missions overseas. He was the Public Affairs Officer for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Fort Bragg between 2015 and 2018. Notably, he acted as the spokesperson for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan during his later years of service.

Driscoll is currently involved in discussions in Geneva aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Many, including former commanders, have praised Butler’s capabilities, highlighting his effectiveness in strategic communications.