Hegseth Orders Removal Of Army Public Affairs Chief

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler as the Army’s chief of public affairs and Driscoll’s chief adviser, defense officials said.

The removal is tied to a promotion list that officials said had been held up for nearly four months and that Butler volunteered to remove his name from to help unlock other promotions.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised Butler’s service and said he wished him success in his upcoming retirement after 28 years of service, Driscoll said.

Butler had appeared on an Army list of officers selected for promotion for two years in a row and had served as head of public affairs for the Joint Chiefs under Gen. Mark Milley, officials said.

Hegseth’s intervention comes after he entered the Pentagon in 2025 and initiated a personnel overhaul that officials said included forcing several senior officers into early retirement, and the promotion list remains blocked by law, officials said.