Hegseth’s Army Secretary Pick Meets Senate Scrutiny

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seeking a permanent replacement for Dan Driscoll, who resigned a month after internal clashes with the secretary. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, a longtime Capitol Hill staffer, was appointed shortly after Driscoll’s exit and has been praised by Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) members for his outreach to both parties.

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Hegseth’s leading candidate is Sean Parnell, a decorated Afghanistan-war veteran who serves as the Pentagon’s senior advisor and chief spokesman. Parnell’s résumé includes two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and a prior congressional run backed by Trump. His candidacy is complicated by spousal-abuse allegations raised by his estranged wife, which he denies and claims vindication for in 2024.

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Other names under consideration include Marc Andersen, the Army’s assistant secretary for financial management, and Derrick Anderson, the assistant secretary of Defense for special operations. Andersen is described by a source as a “patient, persistent guy” with limited public profile, while three Medal of Honor recipients have publicly backed him.

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Senators on the SASC have expressed mixed views. Democratic senior member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he is “very doubtful” Parnell could be confirmed. Republican Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) In contrast, Republican senators Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) voiced confidence in Parnell’s patriotism and performance alongside Hegseth. Senate Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) declined to comment on vote counts until a formal nomination is received.

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White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed that the president will announce the Army Secretary nominee when he deems appropriate, without providing a timeline. Two unnamed administration officials indicated that a “handful” of senators are expected to endorse Parnell in the coming weeks.

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• “I’d rather not comment until someone is nominated. I don’t see the point of doing that,” — Sen. Roger Wicker, SASC chairman “I’d rather not comment until someone is nominated. I don’t see the point of doing that,” — Sen. Roger Wicker, SASC chairman

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• “The reason I think Parnell is the better choice is just the vast amount of experience that he’s going to have in interacting with the industry,” — Earl Plumlee, Medal of Honor recipient “The reason I think Parnell is the better choice is just the vast amount of experience that he’s going to have in interacting with the industry,” — Earl Plumlee

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• “I’ve never seen somebody that I can think of that went from communications/spokesperson to running the whole thing,” — Hegseth, quoted by Sen. Mark Kelly “I’ve never seen somebody that I can think of that went from communications/spokesperson to running the whole thing,” — Hegseth. Sen. Mark Kelly, spokesperson

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