President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is appointing Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, to become acting secretary of the Army, “effective immediately.”
This follows the resignation of former Army secretary Dan Driscoll, whose last official day in the role was Wednesday.
Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army nominee for US President Donald Trump, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
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“He is a Great Patriot, who is respected by all,” Trump said of Telle in a social media post announcing the appointment.
There is a long precedent of service secretaries shortly filling acting roles that isn’t necessarily reflective of who ultimately becomes nominated.
Telle was sworn in as the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works in August 2025. He previously served as chief of staff to Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty and, during Trump’s first term, led the Senate team in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee praised the pick in a statement.
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“The president made an excellent choice in appointing him to serve as Acting Secretary of the Army,” Wicker said. Adam has been a fantastic partner as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. I am confident he will succeed in leading America’s Army.
Driscoll resigned from his role amid growing tension between him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a U.S. official told ABC News.
Trump accepted his resignation Monday evening, according to another official.
In a statement Monday, the White House thanked Driscoll for his work and praised him for being “highly effective.”
