President Donald Trump appointed Adam Telle as acting U.S. Army secretary on September 3, 2026. Telle, who previously served as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, assumed the role immediately following the departure of Dan Driscoll amid reported tensions with Pentagon leadership.
The leadership change at the top of the nation’s largest military branch comes after a period of friction between civilian leaders. Dan Driscoll tendered his resignation as Army secretary, concluding a tenure that began in February 2025. According to reporting from major news outlets, Driscoll’s exit followed months of reported discord with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth regarding the direction, transformation, and structural leadership changes within the Army.
Rather than leaving the post vacant during a critical geopolitical window—including an ongoing conflict with Iran entering its seventh month—the administration turned to an internal Capitol Hill and Pentagon veteran to stabilize the branch.
Adam Telle Takes Over as Acting Secretary
President Trump announced the appointment of Telle in a social media statement on Truth Social, praising the official’s background and standing within the defense establishment.
“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.”
President Donald Trump, via Truth Social
Telle brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to his new responsibilities. He was sworn in as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works in August 2025 after securing confirmation from the U.S. Senate. In that role, he oversaw the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, managing responsibilities ranging from flood and storm protection to commercial waterways and Clean Water Act permitting.
Before joining the Army’s civilian leadership, Telle spent years as a key congressional staffer. He served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., from 2021 to 2025. Earlier in his career, he led the Senate team for the White House Office of Legislative Affairs from August 2019 to January 2021 during Trump’s first administration, where he participated in work on the Abraham Accords and the authorization of the U.S. Space Force. He also spent a decade working in the office of former Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., serving as deputy chief of staff, legislative director, and top national security staffer.
The Departure of Dan Driscoll
Driscoll’s departure marks the latest high-level exit of a senior military official under the current administration. A former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll had initially benefited from that relationship upon taking the civilian reins of the Army in February 2025.
White House officials praised Driscoll’s performance prior to his resignation. In a statement to media outlets, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly noted that Driscoll provided outstanding leadership
and proved highly effective
in advancing the administration’s agenda, including assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and restoring an emphasis on readiness.
However, tensions mounted behind the scenes. Reporting from multiple outlets indicated that Driscoll had raised internal concerns regarding the Army’s transformation process and readiness, believing that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had hindered those efforts—specifically by dismissing key generals responsible for the branch. Hegseth recently moved to reshape military leadership by parting ways with generals such as Christopher Donahue and Randy George, along with former Army vicedirector James Mingus.
In his farewell statement posted on X, Driscoll thanked the administration and reflected on his time in office.
“I had the privilege of working with them to modernize and accelerate how the Army mans, trains, and equips the most lethal fighting force on the face of the earth. We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth. I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country.”
Dan Driscoll, outgoing U.S. Army Secretary
Congressional Reaction and Capitol Hill Ties
Telle’s appointment drew swift praise from key congressional leaders who praised his familiarity with legislative processes and his previous partnership with lawmakers.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., called Trump’s pick an excellent choice
and praised Telle’s track record.
“Adam has been a fantastic partner as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. I am confident he will succeed in leading America’s Army. Our country faces unprecedented threats from the Axis of the Aggressors, and the Army is crucial to maintaining deterrence.”
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also welcomed the transition, posting a message of support on X. Hegseth wrote that Telle is “Strong and whip smart” and will serve as an immediate asset
to the branch.
Analysts note that Telle’s strong relationships with lawmakers on Capitol Hill could prove essential as the administration attempts to navigate pending military appointments and policy priorities currently stalled in the Senate.
