Trump names Adam Telle as acting secretary of the US Army

Adam Telle was announced by Trump as acting secretary of the US Army – Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA/Reuters

United States President Donald Trump announced this Thursday (3) that he is nominating Adam Telle as acting secretary of the US Army. Telle currently holds the position of assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.

"Adam Telle is a great patriot, respected by everyone," said the president in a post on his social network Truth Social.

On Monday (31), the American press reported that the then Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, had resigned, after months of tension with the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth.

Telle has worked in the Army's Civil Works Office since August 2025, according to Legistorm, a website that monitors legislators and advisors in the American Congress. Before that, Telle spent 20 years working primarily in Congress for lawmakers, including as chief of staff for Republican Senator Bill Haggerty of Tennessee between 2021 and 2025.

He worked for 18 months at the White House during Trump's first term, serving as special assistant to the president for legislative affairs, Legistorm reported, and also worked for more than 10 years for the late Republican Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi.

The soldier will oversee the country's largest combat force at a time when the United States is still engaged in conflict with Iran and significant Army forces are stationed in the Middle East.

Frictions and leaving the position

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll testifies during a hearing in the US Senate in May 2026. — Photo: Nathan Posner/Reuters

According to the American press, Driscoll and Hegseth have clashed frequently since the latter took office in January 2025. The Secretary of War is an ally of US President Donald Trump.

Tension between Driscoll and Hegseth reportedly resulted in the firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April.

Driscoll and George were close partners, according to "The Wall Street Journal", and developed technological renewal projects together in the Army. The two also traveled together to Ukraine before the general's dismissal.

George's removal provoked criticism of Hegseth among deputies and senators from his own party, the Republicans.

In a statement sent to the WSJ, the White House praised Driscoll's work. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the secretary was effective in implementing Trump's agenda, preparing the Armed Forces for military operations and in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Hegseth x military leadership

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press statement as he arrives for a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the organization's headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, June 18, 2026. — Photo: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Hegseth served in the US Army and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but had a career as an anchor for the conservative TV channel Fox News before being appointed by Trump to command the Pentagon.

Hegseth's arrival as head of the War Department was viewed with suspicion by the US military leadership, largely made up of career officials.

In the first half of 2026, the secretary began to promote a “clean up” at the top leadership of the Armed Forces. A broad military overhaul is unusual in the country's history, even more so in times of open conflict, such as the war against Iran.