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. Milley, the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and prominent Trump critic.

Butler has been serving as spokesman and media strategist for Driscoll, and Hegseth has sought his removal for weeks — though his reasons remain unclear.

Driscoll said in a statement: "We greatly appreciate Col. Dave Butler's lifetime of service in America's Army and to our nation. 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."

Butler's forced departure represents another Pentagon removal orchestrated by Hegseth, the former Fox News personality now serving as Defense Secretary. The action has generated concern among military colleagues.

According to the Washington Post report, current and retired Army officials expressed surprise at Butler's ouster, characterizing him as a steady, thoughtful strategist who earned trust across military and civilian leadership. One retired colonel remarked, "He's about the most nonpartisan guy I know. That's really too bad."

Hegseth has systematically removed other officers who worked for Milley on the Joint Staff, frustrating those who viewed them as evenhanded leaders caught in political disputes. These removals include General James Mingus, the Army's vice chief of staff who was bypassed to command U.S. Central Command, and Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, whose expected four-star promotion was rescinded by Hegseth last year.

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