Pentagon Chief Hegseth Orders Removal of Army Public Affairs Chief Col. Dave Butler
WASHINGTON — Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth has reportedly issued a direct order to Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll to remove Colonel Dave Butler from his current position, according to information obtained by Fox News. Colonel Butler currently serves in the dual capacity of Chief of Army Public Affairs and chief advisor to Secretary Driscoll.
The directive regarding the high-level staffing change comes at a complex logistical moment for the Army’s civilian leadership. Secretary Driscoll is currently out of the country, stationed in Geneva, Switzerland, where he is serving as a member of a diplomatic negotiating team. The timing of the order suggests an urgency on the part of the Pentagon’s top leadership to restructure the Army’s communication and advisory circle, despite the Secretary’s current involvement in overseas negotiations.
Colonel Butler’s role is central to the service’s public outreach and internal strategy. As the Chief of Public Affairs, he is responsible for managing the Army’s relationship with the media and shaping the branch’s public messaging. Perhaps more significantly, his position as the chief advisor to Secretary Driscoll places him at the nexus of policy formulation and executive decision-making within the Department of the Army.
While the specific reasons behind Chief Hegseth’s decision have not been publicly detailed, the move indicates a potential shift in the administrative alignment between the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Army. It is standard protocol for the Defense Secretary to have broad discretion regarding the staffing of key positions that influence the Pentagon’s public narrative and strategic direction.
It remains unclear who will be appointed to fill the vacancy or when the transition will be officially formalized given Secretary Driscoll’s current diplomatic obligations abroad. As of this report, neither the Pentagon nor the Department of the Army has released an official statement commenting on the timeline for Colonel Butler’s departure or the appointment of an acting chief of Public Affairs.
