Trump Names New Acting Head Of U.S. Army

President Donald Trump moved quickly to fill the void created with the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, naming seasoned Washington operator Adam Telle to take the reins as acting Army secretary.

Telle, who currently serves as the assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, is no stranger to high-stakes political battles. A Capitol Hill veteran with more than two decades of service alongside Republican heavyweights, Telle previously pulled double duty as Trump’s top Senate liaison during his first administration. He played a crucial role in pushing through landmark achievements like the Abraham Accords and the historic launch of the U.S. Space Force.

Trump praised his new military chief as a “Great Patriot, who is respected by all.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth quickly chimed in on X, calling Telle “strong and whip smart” and predicting he will be an “immediate asset” to America’s soldiers.

Huge congrats to Adam. Strong and whip smart. He is indeed a great Patriot — and will be an immediate asset to the @USArmy. https://t.co/AOOlUgw4E6

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 3, 2026

Driscoll submitted his resignation to Trump on Monday after reportedly butting heads with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for months. His departure came as the United States is six months into the Iran war, and American forces came under Iranian missile fire over the weekend after the U.S. struck Iranian launchers near the Strait of Hormuz.

Telle’s rise through the ranks has been fueled by a steady hand and deep legislative know-how. Before taking over civil works, where he manages major infrastructure initiatives, flood defense systems, and navigation waterways across the country, he served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN). His extensive resume also includes managing a massive $70 billion portfolio for the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee and steering major policy and national security priorities for the late Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, leading critical recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

When Trump first nominated him for his civil works role back in March 2025, Telle breezed through his Senate confirmation with a decisive 72–22 vote, earning backing from key industry groups along the way. All 22 votes against him came from Democrats, plus so-called independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Hailing from rural Northport, Alabama, Telle earned degrees in computer science and communication from Mississippi State University, where he also served as student body president.

Now, the married father of two will run the greatest fighting army in the world.