By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-04 02:21:38 | Updated at 2026-09-04 02:58:40
40 minutes ago
President Donald Trump appointed Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, as acting secretary of the U.S. Army on Sept. 3.
“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 wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
“He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all,” Trump added.
The president’s appointment of Telle as acting secretary came after the White House announced on Aug. 31 that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had submitted his resignation.
Telle has served at the Army’s Office of Civil Works since Aug. 2025, according to Legistorm, which tracks members of Congress and their staffers. Prior to that, Telle worked as the chief of staff for Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) from 2021 to 2025.
Before working for Hagerty, Telle led the Senate team for the White House Office of Legislative Affairs from Aug. 2019 to Jan. 2021 under Trump’s first administration.
Telle also served on the Senate Appropriations Committee Homeland Security Subcommittee and spent 10 years working for the office of former Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.).
“Huge congrats to Adam. Strong and whip smart,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote in a Thursday statement on X. “He is indeed a great Patriot—and will be an immediate asset to the [U.S. Army].”
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) issued a statement congratulating Telle following the president’s appointment. Wicker called Trump’s pick an “excellent choice” and described Telle as a “fantastic partner” during his time as assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
“I am confident he will succeed in leading America’s Army. Our country faces unprecedented threats from the Axis of the Aggressors, and the Army is crucial to maintaining deterrence,” Wicker stated. “I look forward to working with Adam to ensure our soldiers have everything they need to execute their mission.”
Driscoll’s Departure
Driscoll confirmed in a social media statement that Sept. 2 would be his last full day serving as secretary of the Army but gave no reason for his departure. He called it the “honor of a lifetime” to serve in the position for the past 18 months.
“Our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families are our Nation’s very best, and they have inspired me every day. I am sincerely thankful for their service and sacrifice,” Driscoll said.
“We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth,” he added. “I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country.”
In a statement to media outlets earlier this week, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Driscoll provided “outstanding leadership” and was “highly effective” in advancing Trump’s “Make America Strong Again” agenda.
Among other accomplishments, Driscoll assisted with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and restored an emphasis on lethality and readiness, Kelly said.
The White House did not give any reason for Driscoll’s resignation.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) criticized Hegseth’s leadership of the Department of War following the announcement of Driscoll’s resignation.
Tillis said in a statement on social media that he had “never witnessed more inept management” of the U.S. military. He urged Trump to “find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it.”
The White House has maintained that the president continues to trust the secretary of war.
“The President has complete trust in Secretary Hegseth, who is doing an incredible job leading the Pentagon,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to The Epoch Times on Sept. 2. “The results of Operations Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve, Southern Spear, and Epic Fury speak for themselves.”
