Trump Names Adam Telle as Acting Army Secretary, Bypassing Service’s No. 2 Civilian Official

WASHINGTON — September 5, 2026 — President Donald Trump has appointed Adam Telle as acting secretary of the U.S. Army, making an unexpected choice that bypasses the Army’s second-highest-ranking civilian official and adds to a period of significant leadership turnover at the Pentagon.

Trump announced Thursday that Telle, who had been serving as assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, would immediately assume the Army’s top civilian position. Trump described Telle as a “great patriot” and said he was respected across the service.

The decision came days after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned following roughly 18 months in the position. Driscoll did not publicly give a reason for his departure, although his resignation followed months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over Army leadership, personnel decisions and modernization efforts.

Trump passes over Army’s No. 2 civilian

Telle’s appointment is notable because it bypassed Army Undersecretary Michael Obadal, who holds the service’s second-highest civilian position and would ordinarily be expected to assume the secretary’s duties when the position becomes vacant.

The unusual move has drawn attention because it places a longtime Republican congressional staffer and former Trump administration official at the head of the Army while the White House considers a permanent successor. Neither Trump nor the White House immediately provided a public explanation for why Obadal was not selected.

Before joining the Army, Telle served as chief of staff to Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. He previously worked in the first Trump administration's White House Office of Legislative Affairs and spent years working for former Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, including on national-security and appropriations issues.

Telle was confirmed by the Senate in August 2025 as assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works. In that role, he oversaw policy and supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, including water infrastructure, navigation and permitting responsibilities.

Leadership turmoil at the Pentagon

Telle takes over at a particularly consequential moment for the Army.

Driscoll's resignation followed the removal of Gen. Randy George as Army chief of staff and other high-profile changes across the Defense Department. Driscoll had been closely associated with Army modernization initiatives, including efforts to accelerate acquisition and expand the service's use of emerging technologies such as drones.

Reports indicate that Driscoll had raised concerns with the administration about the Army's transformation and readiness, particularly in connection with Hegseth's intervention in senior military personnel decisions. The White House, however, praised Driscoll for advancing Trump's defense agenda, restoring emphasis on readiness and lethality, and contributing to negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine.

Hegseth has publicly welcomed Telle's appointment. In a social-media statement, the defense secretary praised the incoming acting secretary as “strong and whip smart” and said he would be an immediate asset to the Army.

What happens next

Telle's appointment is temporary. The administration is expected to determine who will receive a permanent nomination to lead the Army.

The transition comes as the service faces competing demands involving military readiness, modernization, weapons production and ongoing U.S. military operations overseas. Analysts and lawmakers are likely to closely watch whether Telle continues the modernization priorities pursued under Driscoll or adopts a different direction under Hegseth and the Trump administration.

For now, Trump's decision to bypass the Army's No. 2 civilian official represents another significant change in the Pentagon's senior leadership structure — and could signal a broader effort by the administration to reshape the Army around its defense priorities.

Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Army Times, U.S. Army and Daily Caller News Foundation.