In a surprising move that has rattled the upper echelons of the military, Pete Hegseth has orchestrated the removal of a senior military adviser to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, according to defense officials. This unexpected decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power tussle within the Pentagon, shedding light on the friction between Hegseth and Driscoll, both key figures in the Trump administration. Sources from the Washington Post indicate that Hegseth instructed Driscoll to dismiss Col. David Butler during a meeting at the Pentagon last week.

Col. Butler, who had been working under both Driscoll and retired Gen. Mark A. Milley, found himself in the crossfire of political maneuvering. Gen. Milley has frequently been a target of President Trump’s criticism, and Butler’s ties to him did not go unnoticed. This is the second instance where Hegseth has sought Butler’s removal, succeeding this time in having him ousted. The incident highlights the growing divide within the Pentagon as Hegseth presses his influence over the Army’s leadership. Butler’s responsibilities included serving as a spokesman and media strategist for both Secretary Driscoll and General Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff.

Despite being nominated for promotion to brigadier general, Butler’s career progression hit a snag due to Hegseth’s disapproval of the advancement. The exact reasons behind Hegseth’s opposition to the promotion remain undisclosed. Insiders report that Colonel Butler was among approximately thirty officers whose promotions were stalled as their names awaited final approval from the White House, a process that should have been completed months ago. Butler’s inclusion on this list has been cited as the primary cause of the freeze on promotions for the entire group, further complicating the situation within the military’s hierarchy.

Following a sharp directive issued by Hegseth to Driscoll last week, Butler made the decision to submit for his retirement The move effectively clears the path for the remaining officers, who had seen their promotions delayed for months while the Pentagon leadership clashed over the list. Driscoll did not give an explanation for Butler leaving from the department, but confirmed he is retiring. ‘We greatly appreciate Col. Dave Butler’s lifetime of service in America’s Army and to our nation,’ the statement said. 

‘Dave has been an integral part of the Army’s transformation efforts. He will be missed and I sincerely wish him tremendous success in his upcoming retirement after 28 years of service,’ Driscoll added. Butler declined to comment. He might have found himself in hot water due to his high–profile stint as the senior spokesman for Milley. Milley, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement in 2023, has been a frequent target of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for years. 

The bad blood stems from a series of well–documented clashes between the general and Trump during the president’s first term in office. Milley had worked under Trump and President Joe Biden and has been at the center of threats from the Iranian government. Milley was among the Trump administration officials involved in the January 2020 assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani who received security details in the aftermath. Weeks before Election Day 2024, Watergate star and longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward revealed that Milley had described Trump as ‘fascist to the core’ and ‘the most dangerous person to this country.’