US EditionHegseth orders ouster of top Army secretary adviser: Reports
Col. David Butler retired to avoid delaying promotions for about 34 officers amid Defense Secretary Hegseth’s push to remove those linked to former Gen. Milley.
- Multiple outlets reported on February 17, 2026, that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. David Butler, who then submitted retirement paperwork.
- Hegseth's months-long hold on the promotion list left Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resisting removing Col. David Butler, who had served as senior spokesman for Gen. Mark A. Milley and was valued for his modernization role.
- Nominated for brigadier general, Col. David Butler appeared on a list of 34 promotion‑eligible officers whose advancement had been delayed, and served as a spokesman and media strategist for Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George.
- His retirement removed the immediate blockade on promotions, clearing the slate for a promotion slate affecting 34 officers, but military colleagues raised concerns and no successor was named as of February 17, 2026.
- Officials warn that, without clearer explanations from the Department of Defense, the unexplained firings have led to fear, uncertainty, and an unwillingness to speak up among senior military leaders, as Griffin stated.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Hegseth orders ouster of top Army secretary adviser: Reports
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to oust one of his top advisers, Col. David Butler, who was also a spokesperson for Gen. Mark Milley when he was the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth directed Driscoll, who is currently in Switzerland as part of the U.S. delegation negotiating to…
Jennifer Griffin: Hegseth's sudden removal of a top Army officer has spooked the military brass · American Wire News
Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sudden removal of a top Army officer has spooked the military brass. According to a report from Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin, “unexplained firings have led to” anxiety among the higher-ups under Hegseth’s leadership. Look Fox News has learned that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col Dave Butler from his current job serving as …
Another head rolls at Pentagon as Hegseth catches Army officials by surprise
A well-regarded Pentagon official slated for promotion to brigadier general is instead being forced out, according to the Washington Post.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Colonel David Butler, who previously served as senior spokesman for General Mark A. ...
Hegseth Forces Out Senior Pentagon Public Affairs Officer
Pete Hegseth’s push to remove a senior Army spokesman has exposed a quiet power struggle inside the Pentagon, where promotions, past loyalties, and politics are colliding in ways the Army is not eager to explain. #PeteHegseth, #Pentagon, #USArmy, #MilitaryNews, #DefenseNews, #PentagonPolitics, #MilitaryLeadership, #ArmyPublicAffairs, #NationalSecurity, #BreakingDefense
Fox’s Jen Griffin Reports Pete Hegseth Ordered Sudden Firing of Top Army Officer — Adding to Climate of ‘Fear’ Among Military Brass
There is a climate of "fear" and "uncertainty" growing among military brass after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth forced out a top army officer.
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