The Army still lacks Senate-confirmed military leadership
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that President Trump named Adam Telle as acting Army secretary, succeeding Dan Driscoll, who resigned earlier this week after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Telle, the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, will start in the new job immediately, according to the report.
Trump announced the choice Thursday evening on Truth Social, writing, “He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Telle previously served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.) and as Trump’s chief liaison to the Senate, according to the report.
Hegseth congratulated Telle in a post on X and called him an “immediate asset” to the Army.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Driscoll had clashed with Hegseth over the direction of the service and the ouster of numerous senior Army officers.
The report said Driscoll’s departure leaves the Army without top Senate-confirmed civilian or military leaders. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has served as acting chief of the service since Hegseth fired his predecessor, Gen. Randy George. With Telle serving in an acting capacity, the report still describes the Army as lacking a Senate-confirmed civilian or military leader.
As MSI previously reported on August 31, Dan Driscoll’s resignation left the Army without Senate-confirmed civilian or military leaders. President Trump’s appointment of Adam Telle places an acting official in the civilian secretary position, while Gen. Christopher LaNeve has served as acting chief of the service, so the Army still lacks a Senate-confirmed military leader.