Who is Adam Telle? Donald Trump names new acting US Army secretary after Dan Driscoll resigns | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) announced the appointment of Adam R Telle as acting Secretary of the Army, days after Dan Driscoll resigned amid reports of widespread tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
After confirming Telle’s appointment, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “I am pleased to announce that Adam Telle, the current Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will become the Acting Secretary of the Army effective immediately. He is a great patriot who is respected by all.”
Hegseth echoed Trump’s sentiment in a post on X, writing: “Huge congratulations to Adam. Strong and smart. He is truly a great patriot – and will be an immediate asset to the US military.”
Read also | US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned over tensions with Pete Hegseth
Who is Adam Telle?
Telle is the civilian leader of the US Army Corps of Engineers. He has more than two decades of experience working for Republican senators and served in the White House during Donald Trump’s first term, where he was the president’s chief liaison to the Senate, according to an Army resume.
On 5 August 2025, he was sworn in as the 14th Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), after being nominated by the US President and confirmed by the US Senate, becoming the second Trump appointee to be confirmed.
A native of rural Northport, Alabama, Telle majored in computer science and communications at Mississippi State University, where he was elected student body president.
In his role as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Telle has primary authority to set policy direction and provides oversight of all aspects of the US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program for the Department of the Army. Its responsibilities include commercial shipping, flood and storm damage mitigation, and permitting activities under Clean Water Act jurisdiction.
He previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and also served as Trump’s top Senate liaison while leading the White House Office of Legislative Affairs’ Senate team. During his tenure as Chief Liaison Officer, he played an important role in the White House’s national security apparatus and helped achieve historic achievements, including the Abraham Accords and the authorization of the Space Force, the first armed services established since the 1940s.
Read also | Pete Hegseth wraps up reports on a 2028 presidential run
Telle also served as a senior staff member of the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee responsible for overseeing the Department of Homeland Security budget. Prior to that, he spent a decade in the office of Senator Thad Cochran, serving as deputy chief of staff, legislative director and top national security official. He also led Cochrane’s work on Hurricane Katrina recovery, water resource authorization and allocation, and flood insurance.
As acting secretary of the Army, Telle will oversee the United States’ largest military force at a time when Washington remains embroiled in a conflict with Tehran while significant U.S. military forces are deployed in the Middle East, the AP reported.
Why did Dan Driscoll resign?
Dan Driscoll, former Secretary of the Army, is an Army veteran who served in Iraq. Driscoll, a friend of Vice President JD Vance, was on good terms with both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. He is said to have spoken with Trump about the current state of the military before submitting his resignation.
Rumors of Driscoll’s departure had been circulating for months, particularly after Hegseth’s dismissal of Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George earlier this year. He was confirmed as Secretary of the Army in February 2025. In the only public statement he made about his departure, the Army veteran reportedly gave no indication of any problems, saying it had been the “honor of a lifetime” to serve as Army secretary under Trump and Hegseth.
