In Feb 2026, Defense Secretary Hegseth pressured Army Secretary Driscoll to remove senior officer Col. Dave Butler, a Milley ally, sparking concerns over military politicization.

In February 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressured Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler, the Army’s chief of public affairs and a senior adviser, amid escalating tensions over military leadership. Butler, a 28-year veteran and former spokesman for former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, retired after being blocked from a promotion to brigadier general, reportedly to avoid delaying other officers' promotions. The move follows Hegseth’s broader pattern of targeting officials linked to Milley, including suspending Milley’s security clearance and removing his portrait from the Pentagon. Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, resisted the pressure but ultimately complied. The incident has raised concerns about politicization of the military, institutional stability, and the nonpartisan nature of military leadership.