Trump Appoints Adam Telle as Acting Army Secretary

President Trump has appointed Adam Telle as the acting Army secretary following the resignation of Dan Driscoll. Telle, previously the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, has extensive experience in the political sphere. He spent over two decades working with Republican senators and served as the president’s chief liaison to the Senate during Trump’s first term.

In a Truth Social post, Trump praised Telle, calling him a “Great Patriot” respected by many. Pete Hegseth echoed similar sentiments in a post on X, congratulating Telle on his new appointment. Hegseth emphasized Telle’s intelligence and patriotic values.

Driscoll’s resignation comes after ongoing friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll, an Army veteran closely associated with Vice President JD Vance, had developed plans to overhaul Army operations. However, concerns arose regarding Hegseth’s actions in sidelining generals essential to these plans. Sources informed CBS News about Driscoll’s apprehensions related to the replacement of key personnel.

Earlier this year, at Hegseth’s request, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George resigned, followed by Gen. Chris Donahue from the U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Both were instrumental in the “Army Transformation Initiative,” proposing increased use of drones and technology, restructured forces, and removal of outdated equipment. Notably, George and Donahue supported a newly established Army drone battalion, inspired by drone warfare insights from Ukraine. Recent plans to phase out this unit have surfaced amid internal disagreements.

Telle will manage the Army during challenging times with ongoing conflicts involving Iran and significant deployments in the Middle East. The military is facing shortages in essential weapons like Patriot and THAAD missile systems, operated by the Army. Driscoll’s resignation prompted bipartisan criticism, with some blaming Hegseth. Sen. Thom Tillis, a retiring Republican from North Carolina, criticized Hegseth for creating leadership voids within military ranks.