[UPDATE] Trump names Adam Telle acting Army secretary, effective immediately, after Driscoll resigned

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."

PREVIOUSLY

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.

What 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.

ContextTelle is the third person to run the Army since Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025. Mark Averill filled in for about five weeks, then Dan Driscoll was confirmed on Feb. 25, 2025 and lasted roughly 18 months before quitting this week after repeated clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Telle can start at once because acting officials do not need a Senate vote; the Senate did confirm him to the civil works job 72-22 on Aug. 2, 2025, with every no vote from a Democrat. The Army's top uniformed post is open too. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has been acting chief of staff for five months, since Hegseth forced out Gen. Randy George on April 2, 2026, and Trump has sent no nomination. Senators including Joni Ernst (Sen-R Iowa) note LaNeve has worn four stars for only about six months, against a norm closer to 18.