Captain calamity: Pete Hegseth under fire for ‘inept’ leadership of US military

President Donald Trump has appointed Adam Telle as the acting Army secretary, following the departure of Daniel Driscoll. Telle, currently the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, previously served as a special assistant to the president for legislative affairs during Trump's first term. Driscoll's resignation comes amid widespread reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and some of Driscoll's allies within the Army have been ousted. Telle will lead the Army during a period of ongoing conflict and military challenges, including shortages of critical weapons systems. Driscoll, an Army veteran, did not provide a specific reason for his departure after 18 months in the role.

President Donald Trump has appointed Adam Telle as the acting Army secretary, succeeding Dan Driscoll. Driscoll resigned this week after 18 months in the role, with reports indicating tensions between him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Telle, previously the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, has a background in Congress and served in the White House during Trump's first term. Trump praised Telle as a "Great Patriot" on Truth Social. Driscoll offered no specific reason for his departure, though some of his allies in the Army were reportedly ousted by Hegseth. Telle will lead the Army during ongoing U.S. military engagement in the Middle East.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny and calls for his removal from his position. Republican Senator Thom Tillis has accused Hegseth of creating a "leadership void" and displaying "inept management" within the Pentagon. This criticism follows the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and a pattern of firings, forced retirements, and blocked promotions among senior military officials. Hegseth, who assumed office in January 2025, has pursued a military reshaping focused on "maximum lethality" and a "warrior ethos," which critics argue has led to instability and prioritized cultural battles over readiness. Controversies during his tenure include the "Signalgate" incident involving the inadvertent sharing of sensitive military information on a messaging app, a significant turnover of senior personnel, and an increasingly adversarial relationship with the press, including new policies restricting journalists.