- Army Assistant Secretary Adam Telle has been tapped for the acting role
- He oversees the Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works portfolio
- The appointment follows Dan Driscoll’s departure from the post
President Donald Trump has appointed Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, as acting secretary of the Army, effective immediately.
Trump announced the appointment on Thursday in a Truth Social post, describing Telle as a “Great Patriot” who is well regarded across government.
Telle’s appointment came after the resignation of Dan Driscoll, a 2026 Wash100 awardee, as Army secretary.
What Are Adam Telle’s Responsibilities as Assistant Secretary?
According to his Army biography, Telle holds principal authority to establish policy direction and provide supervision over all aspects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program. His responsibilities span commercial navigation, flood and storm damage reduction and permitting of activities under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.
Who Is Adam Telle?
Telle is a longtime Capitol Hill and White House staffer who most recently served as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. Before that role, he served as President Trump’s chief liaison to the Senate while leading the Senate team within the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, where he contributed to the Abraham Accords and the authorization of the U.S. Space Force.
Telle also worked as the chief staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee overseeing the Department of Homeland Security budget. He spent an earlier decade in the office of the late Sen. Thad Cochran, holding the titles of deputy chief of staff, legislative director and top national security staffer, where he led efforts on Hurricane Katrina recovery, water resources authorization and appropriations, and flood insurance policy.
Telle, who holds degrees in computer science and communication from Mississippi State University, was sworn in on Aug. 5, 2025, as the 14th assistant secretary of the Army for civil works following his nomination by Trump and confirmation by the Senate.
