Telle, the Army's assistant secretary for civil works, is a former Senate Republican aide with no military service; Trump has not said whether he will nominate him permanently.
Trump named Adam Telle, the Army's assistant secretary for civil works, as acting Army secretary effective immediately, filling the vacancy left by Dan Driscoll's resignation this week after clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Telle is a longtime Senate Republican aide with no military service, confirmed to his current post 72-22 in August 2025; Trump has not said whether he will nominate him permanently. Trump called Telle "a Great Patriot, who is respected by all." Hegseth added: "Huge congrats to Adam. Strong and whip smart. He is indeed a great Patriot — and will be an immediate asset to the @USArmy."
Catch up
- Apr. 2, 2026 — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George; Gen. Christopher LaNeve has run the job in an acting capacity ever since.
- Sept. 1 — Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after about 18 months, the fourth senior service leader out in recent months, following repeated clashes with Hegseth.
- Sept. 3 — Sen. Thom Tillis (Sen-R North Carolina) asked Trump to replace Hegseth, citing "inept management," leaving the Army with no Senate-confirmed secretary and no Senate-confirmed chief of staff.
BackgroundWhat Telle's civil works job did not put him in charge of
- Civil works covers waterways, ports, flood control and the Army Corps of Engineers' non-military work — a budget and infrastructure lane.
- The job carries no authority over personnel policy, force structure or unit readiness, the areas where Driscoll and Hegseth clashed.
- A permanent nomination would need only a simple majority; with 53 Republican senators, a repeat of the 22 no votes would not stop him.