On Thursday, President Donald Trump appointed Adam Telle as the acting Army secretary, skipping over the service’s second-highest civilian official after the resignation of former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, which reportedly stemmed from friction with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Before this new role, Telle was the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works. It’s a bit of an unconventional move—putting a seasoned Republican Senate aide and ex-Trump White House official at the Army’s helm while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.
Trump announced the decision on his Truth Social account, stating, “I am pleased to announce that Adam Telle, the current Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will become Acting Secretary of the Army, effective immediately. He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Reportedly, Trump had encouraged Driscoll to remain in his position until after the midterm elections after Driscoll expressed his intention to resign. Concerns were raised by Driscoll regarding perceived disruptions caused by Hegseth within the Army.
According to reports, Driscoll and Hegseth had multiple disagreements related to the ousting of senior Army officers, stalled promotions, and modernization efforts.
In response to the ongoing situation, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell pushed back against claims of disorder within the department, describing such assertions as unfounded and insulting to dedicated professionals in the Army. He characterized the ongoing changes as part of a reform process.
Driscoll had apparently been seen as a potential successor to Hegseth following concerns voiced by senior Trump officials about the defense secretary’s early time in the role. His departure adds to a list of notable exits from Hegseth’s leadership, including former Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.
The Pentagon referred inquiries about the Army to the Army itself, while the White House pointed to Trump’s Truth Social post for details.
According to U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan, Telle was confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works back in August 2025.
In the meantime, Hegseth praised Trump’s decision to appoint Telle, calling him “strong and whip smart,” adding that he would quickly become an asset to the Army.
Prior to his Pentagon appointment, Telle was chief of staff for Republican Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty and had experience with the Senate Appropriations Committee and former Republican Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran. He also worked on the White House legislative affairs team during Trump’s first term.
As for who will ultimately lead the Army on a permanent basis, that remains uncertain at this point.
