Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is embroiled in controversy as reports indicate he is spending significant time on matters "well below his pay grade" while continuing a purge of dissenting Pentagon officials. The latest apparent casualty is Col. Dave Butler, a longtime public affairs official for the U.S. Army, who was reportedly ousted under Hegseth's orders.
Butler's Ouster and Hegseth's Pattern of Purges
According to multiple news outlets including The Atlantic and The Washington Post, Hegseth recently ordered the removal of Col. Dave Butler, who served in several high-profile roles during his career. Butler notably worked as a spokesperson for Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose relationship with former President Donald Trump has been particularly contentious.
This incident appears to be part of a broader pattern that has developed over the last year, with Hegseth reportedly firing several top military officials due to perceived disloyalty or connections to political adversaries. The Atlantic reports that Hegseth has now begun reaching even lower in the military ranks with these personnel actions.
Analyst Criticizes Hegseth's Priorities
Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, offered sharp criticism of Hegseth's approach in comments to The Atlantic. "The secretary of defense is spending his time doing things that those well below his pay grade should be doing," Schake stated. "And he is not doing the things that only the secretary of defense can do."
This assessment suggests that Hegseth may be neglecting critical defense policy matters while focusing on personnel decisions that would typically be handled by lower-ranking officials within the Defense Department hierarchy.
Connection to Milley-Trump Conflict
The Atlantic reports that Hegseth's push to remove Butler may have been influenced by the colonel's association with Gen. Mark Milley. Milley has long clashed with Trump and his allies, particularly following the controversial 2020 photo-op at Lafayette Square during the George Floyd protests, for which Milley later apologized.
The conflict escalated significantly in 2023 when Trump repeatedly attacked Milley and even suggested the general could be executed for committing treason. Milley denied these accusations at the time and indicated he was taking "appropriate measures" to ensure his safety following Trump's inflammatory comments.
In January 2025, shortly after Trump was sworn in for his second term, Milley's portrait was reportedly removed from the Pentagon, further signaling the ongoing tensions between Trump allies and military officials perceived as disloyal.
Butler's Retirement and Official Response
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll issued a statement to The Washington Post regarding Butler's departure, describing it as a retirement and expressing gratitude for his service. "We greatly appreciate Col. Dave Butler's lifetime of service in America's Army and to our nation," Driscoll said. "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."
The Post reports that Butler filed his retirement paperwork shortly after learning about Hegseth's order for his removal. Butler has declined to comment on the matter to various news outlets, and The Independent was unable to reach him for comment. The Independent has also contacted the Defense Department for comment on these developments.
This latest personnel move raises questions about the direction of Defense Department leadership under Hegseth and whether the focus on perceived loyalty is coming at the expense of broader defense priorities and institutional stability within the Pentagon.
