President Donald Trump announced that Adam Telle will serve as acting secretary of the Army effective immediately, following the departure of Dan Driscoll, whose last official day in the role was Wednesday, September 3.
Telle, currently the Senate-confirmed assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will assume the Army’s top civilian position in a temporary capacity. Trump praised Telle in a Truth Social post, calling him “a Great Patriot, who is respected by all.”
Driscoll resigned amid months of reported friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to Military Times, Driscoll had already moved his family out of the formal Army Secretary’s residence into more modest housing in August, signaling his intent to depart. The Wall Street Journal first reported his resignation on Monday, August 31, with his departure effective September 3.
Driscoll, a Ranger-tabbed Army veteran with a background in venture capital and Republican politics, had served as Army secretary since February 2025. During his tenure, he championed acquisition reform and the Army’s “right to repair” its equipment, and oversaw the launch of FUZE, a $750 million program designed to fast-track warfighting technology from concept to prototype within 70 days.
Telle’s appointment bypasses Michael Obidal, the undersecretary of the Army, a position that commonly becomes the acting secretary in such cases. Telle was sworn in as assistant secretary for Civil Works in August 2025 after being nominated by Trump. He previously served as chief of staff to Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty and, during Trump’s first term, led the Senate team in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, praised the selection. “Adam has been a fantastic partner as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works,” Wicker said in a statement. “I am confident he will succeed in leading America’s Army.”
Telle’s appointment comes at a time when the Army faces significant leadership vacuums. In April, Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, with Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve standing in for the top uniformed post. The White House has not formally nominated LaNeve, despite reports of bipartisan concern about his credentials. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said last week that the administration is “actively coordinating with our Senate partners to lock in the optimal moment” for LaNeve’s nomination.
Driscoll’s departure is the latest in a series of departures under Hegseth. Since assuming his post in January 2025, the Defense Secretary has presided over the firings or early departures of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown; Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti; General James Mingus, the Army’s vice chief of staff; and Army General Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
There is a long precedent of service secretaries briefly filling acting roles that does not necessarily reflect who ultimately becomes nominated to the position permanently. The appointment leaves the Army without confirmed civilian and uniformed leadership at a time when the service is undergoing modernization efforts.
Sources
- ABC News — Trump’s announcement that Adam Telle will serve as acting Army secretary effective immediately, following Driscoll’s departure
- Breaking Defense — Telle’s background as assistant secretary for Civil Works, his bypassing of the undersecretary position, and Senate Armed Services Committee chairman’s statement
- Military Times — Driscoll’s resignation date and the broader context of Hegseth-led departures from Pentagon leadership
- AP News — Confirmation of Trump’s appointment announcement and Telle’s previous roles in Trump administration
