Overview
- Army officials said Col. Dave Butler is transitioning to retirement after 28 years following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to remove him as chief of Army public affairs.
- Butler withdrew from the brigadier general promotion list to let colleagues advance after Hegseth’s objections stalled the slate for nearly four months, according to multiple reports.
- Reporters and officials cite Butler’s prior role as spokesman for Gen. Mark Milley as a likely factor in Hegseth’s push, though the department has not offered an official reason.
- Since taking office, Hegseth has removed or forced out multiple senior officers, a pattern that sources say has fostered fear and reluctance to speak up among military leaders.
- Hegseth’s order reached Army Secretary Dan Driscoll while he was in Geneva for Ukraine talks, and Driscoll—who had resisted for months—publicly praised Butler’s service in announcing his retirement.