WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is extending his campaign to reshape the military’s leadership ranks, now reaching down to include colonels, a move that is raising concerns about political interference in personnel decisions. The recent removal of Colonel Dave Butler, a longtime Army public affairs leader, exemplifies this broadening effort, according to sources within the Pentagon.
Hegseth, in a meeting last year, reportedly questioned Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about why Butler hadn’t been fired. Butler, a former infantry officer with a distinguished career, was pushed out on Thursday. Sources indicate the issue wasn’t Butler’s performance – both Driscoll and the Army’s chief of staff, General Randy George, reportedly valued his advice and experience – but rather his close association with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, whom Hegseth openly despises.
The intervention in the career of a colonel is unusual, as defense secretaries typically focus on broader strategic issues and leave personnel decisions at lower levels to the individual branches. Historically, since the establishment of a large-scale standing force after World War I, promotions and personnel matters have been based on merit and overseen by the respective military branches.
Hegseth has already fired or sidelined dozens of three- and four-star officers, often without clear justification beyond perceived disloyalty, support for diversity programs, or connections to individuals considered opponents of the administration. With Butler’s removal, Hegseth demonstrates a willingness to extend this practice to lower ranks, signaling that his “purge” is far from over. There are approximately 4,000 colonels in the Army alone.
“The secretary of defense is spending his time doing things that those well below his pay grade should be doing,” said Kori Schake, who directs foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute. “And he is not doing the things that only the secretary of defense can do.”
Hegseth’s office referred questions to the Army. Spokesperson Cynthia Smith stated in an email that Butler would retire, adding, “His integral role in the Army’s transformation efforts will be missed.”
Butler, who declined to comment, had become a significant figure within the Army over the past dozen years, advising top officers including Milley. He played a role in major decisions, including organizing the Army’s 250th-anniversary parade. He also served as a key advisor to Driscoll and George, and was considered highly valued by both.
The relationship between Hegseth and Driscoll has been described as tense. Driscoll, a confidant of Vice President Vance, has emerged as a rival to Hegseth within the Pentagon. While Hegseth has focused on internal purges and operations in the Caribbean, Driscoll has gained prominence through his involvement in U.S. Efforts to mediate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. He was in Geneva on Thursday continuing those efforts, alongside special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The delay in a larger group of proposed promotions, which required Pentagon leadership sign-off before submission to the White House, was reportedly linked to Hegseth’s stonewalling of Butler’s advancement. Some Army officials had hoped the delay would ultimately benefit Butler, but after a meeting between Hegseth and Driscoll on Thursday, Driscoll followed Hegseth’s order and removed him. “The Army delayed this inevitable decision and in the end Hegseth said, ‘Enough’s enough,’” one defense official reportedly said.
According to sources, Hegseth’s animosity toward Butler stemmed primarily from his association with Milley. Hegseth and former President Trump have both accused Milley of treason, and Trump once suggested Milley should be executed. Hegseth removed Milley’s official portrait from the Pentagon upon taking office and recently replaced General James Mingus, another officer who served on the Joint Staff under Milley, with General Christopher LaNeve, one of his own aides, who supported Butler’s removal.
Hegseth’s staff has also focused on Pentagon public relations, removing an Air Force colonel who served as spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Dan Caine over a years-old social-media post advocating for support for Afghans after the U.S. Withdrawal. Hegseth also implemented a rule requiring reporters to seek Pentagon approval before publishing stories, leading hundreds of journalists to protest.
News of Butler’s removal reportedly sparked fear within the military’s public-affairs community, with officials fearing retribution and viewing Hegseth’s interference as a contradiction of leadership principles. “Hegseth’s decision speaks to a broader effort to shape the long-term trajectory of the military,” one former defense official said. “By getting involved at the colonel rank, Hegseth could reshape the military three, five, seven, even 10 years down the road.”
The move raises concerns that such micromanaging based on political or personal animus could further polarize the military and erode its reputation as a non-partisan institution.
