President Donald Trump has named Adam Telle as the new acting U.S. Army Secretary, making clear late Thursday night that his appointee assumes the role “immediately.”
In a statement, Trump described Telle as “a Great Patriot, who is respected by all.” The president’s announcement came just days after Telle’s predecessor, Dan Driscoll, exited the role on Monday after 18 months on the job, as Breitbart News reported.
Telle currently serves as the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, a position that oversees the Army’s civil works programs, including waterway infrastructure and environmental missions. In his new role, he will take charge of the nation’s largest fighting force at a time when the U.S. remains engaged in conflict with Iran and significant Army resources are spread across the Middle East, according to the Associated Press.
Telle brings more than two decades of Washington experience to the post. According to the AP, he has spent over 20 years working for Republican senators as well as in the White House during Trump’s first term, where he served as the president’s chief liaison to the Senate.
A Familiar Hand in a Changing Pentagon
Telle’s appointment comes amid broader leadership shifts across the Defense Department under the Trump administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quickly offered his congratulations on social media, writing: “Huge congrats to Adam. Strong and whip smart. He is indeed a great Patriot — and will be an immediate asset to the @USArmy.”
The U.S. Army Secretary is a senior civilian official who leads the Department of the Army and manages its daily business, budget, and administrative affairs. The role carries significant responsibility for overseeing personnel, readiness, and modernization efforts across the service.
Telle’s background as a Senate liaison and his lengthy service on Capitol Hill are likely to be assets as he steps into the job, particularly given the administration’s focus on defense policy and its ongoing military commitments abroad. His experience navigating congressional relationships could prove important as the Army seeks funding for its priorities and as debates continue over the scope of U.S. military engagement overseas.
The move also underscores the Trump administration’s continued reshaping of top Pentagon civilian posts. Driscoll’s departure after just 18 months marks another change at the helm of the Army, and Telle now steps in to lead the service during a volatile period marked by Middle East tensions and evolving global threats.
While the announcement was made late Thursday, no immediate comments from Telle were reported. The Army did not issue a separate statement on the transition as of the time of the announcement.
As acting secretary, Telle will operate without the need for Senate confirmation, but his appointment could set the stage for a future nomination if Trump chooses to make the role permanent. For now, the president has made his expectations clear: Telle is to assume his duties without delay.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/04/trump-picks-adam-telle-as-new-acting-u-s-army-secretary/