President Donald Trump appointed Adam Telle as the new acting U.S.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Adam Telle, the serving assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will take over as acting secretary of the Army, effective immediately, posting on Truth Social that He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all.
The appointment follows the departure of Dan Driscoll, who stepped down from the branch’s top civilian post earlier in the week. Driscoll submitted his resignation to the president earlier this week, and a source with knowledge of Driscoll’s actions told Military Times that he tendered his resignation Monday. Driscoll served as the Army’s civilian leader since February 2025.
The leadership shuffle comes as the Trump administration continues to make changes across the U.S. defense establishment. Driscoll’s resignation is the latest departure of a senior U.S. military official under Trump. Driscoll, a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, had reportedly benefited from their relationship within the administration.
Tensions Behind Dan Driscoll’s Departure
Driscoll’s exit follows months of reported tension with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, after Driscoll reportedly butted heads with Hegseth for ‘months’ over the Army’s transformation and readiness, including Driscoll’s belief that Hegseth had hindered those efforts. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Driscoll submitted his resignation to the White House after months of tension with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Despite the reported friction, the outgoing secretary released a public statement on X. Driscoll said Wednesday would be his “last full dayin the position, adding that serving under Trump and Hegseth had been
the honor of a lifetime.”
“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.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the transition publicly on social media, writing on X, Huge congrats to Adam. Strong and whip smart. He is indeed a great Patriot — and will be an immediate asset to the @USArmy.
Adam Telle’s Background on Capitol Hill and at Civil Works
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. Trump
Telle was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2025, being sworn in as assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works in August 2025. In his civil works portfolio, he oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, where his responsibilities include flood and storm protection, commercial waterways, and Clean Water Act permitting.
Before taking up executive branch duties, Telle spent much of his career working as a congressional aide. Previously, Telle served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and was Trump’s chief liaison to the Senate during the president’s first administration, when he led the White House Office of Legislative Affairs’ Senate team. Before that, Telle served on the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee responsible for overseeing the Department of Homeland Security’s budget. He also spent 10 years in the office of former Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., where he served as deputy chief of staff, legislative director, and the senator’s top national security staffer.
Senate Relationships and Next Steps for Military Nominations
Telle enters the acting secretary post with strong relationships with senators on Capitol Hill, which could prove important as the administration works to confirm Army nominees stalled in the Senate. The appointment fills a key leadership vacancy atop the nation’s largest military branch.
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