When Defense Secretaries Hunt Colonels

4,000. That's how many colonels serve in the U.S. Army alone. So when a Defense Secretary starts passing notes about one specific colonel's career, something unusual is happening.

Last year, during a Pentagon meeting, Pete Hegseth slipped a note to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The message was blunt: Why hasn't this guy been fired yet? The "guy" was Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer who had spent over a decade as a key advisor to top military brass.

On Thursday, Hegseth finally got his way. Butler was pushed out.

The Colonel Who Knew Too Much

Butler wasn't your typical colonel. Over the past dozen years, he had emerged as a powerful force within the Army, serving as a trusted advisor to senior officers including former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley—a man Hegseth and Trump have accused of treason.

The connection to Milley proved toxic. Milley had publicly clashed with Trump, particularly after expressing regret about walking alongside the former president following the clearing of Lafayette Square protesters in 2020. Butler had been in the room for major decisions, from organizing the Army's 250th anniversary parade to broader U.S. defense policy discussions.

Both Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Randy George valued Butler's advice, experience, and reform initiatives. But that endorsement, combined with his previous assignment with Milley, sealed his fate.

When Micromanagement Meets the Pentagon

Defense secretaries typically focus on war planning, managing a department of 3 million people, and overseeing America's nuclear arsenal. They don't usually get involved in decisions about colonels and other mid-level commanders. Since World War I, individual military branches have maintained control over promotions based on merit.

Hegseth has shattered that tradition. In his first year, he has fired or sidelined dozens of three- and four-star officers, often without clear justification beyond perceived disloyalty to his beliefs, alleged support for diversity programs, or connections to people the administration considers enemies.

"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."

The Driscoll Factor

The Butler case also highlights tensions between Hegseth and Driscoll. A confidant of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll has emerged as a Pentagon rival to the former Fox News host. Unlike Hegseth—who survived a bruising confirmation process amid allegations of mismanagement, heavy drinking, and sexual assault—Driscoll cuts a clean-living profile and has won congressional allies with his more diplomatic approach.

While Hegseth has focused on internal purges and Caribbean drug interdiction strikes, Driscoll's star has risen through his participation in efforts to mediate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Today, he's in Geneva working with Trump special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

After Hegseth's initial complaint about Butler, both Driscoll and George kept the colonel in their inner circle. For the Army leadership, it wasn't just about protecting Butler—it was about defending their authority to decide who leads their forces.

Top Army officials had hoped to keep Butler in the promotion queue despite Hegseth's objections. But after months of delays and another meeting Thursday, Driscoll finally capitulated to Hegseth's demands.

The Chilling Effect

News of Butler's ouster sent ripples through the military's public affairs community. Officials told reporters they now fear angering Hegseth and see his interference as contradicting what the military teaches its commanders: strong leaders focus on their own responsibilities, not micromanaging others' roles.

Hegseth has shown particular interest in Pentagon PR operations. He removed an Air Force colonel who served as spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs chairman over a years-old social media post about Afghan support. He censured Senator Mark Kelly after the retired Navy captain urged troops to refuse unlawful orders. He even implemented rules requiring reporters to seek Pentagon approval before publishing stories or risk losing press credentials—leading hundreds of journalists to walk out.

The Long Game

"Hegseth's decision speaks to a broader effort to shape the long-term trajectory of the military," one former defense official explained. "By getting involved at the colonel rank, Hegseth could reshape the military three, five, seven, even 10 years down the road."

This represents a fundamental shift in civil-military relations. Rather than focusing on strategic oversight, the Pentagon's civilian leadership is now conducting what amounts to ideological screening at the mid-officer level. The implications extend far beyond individual careers.

The military has long prided itself on being one of America's most trusted institutions, maintaining broad public confidence even as other institutions have become polarized. But when political loyalty becomes a factor in promotions and assignments, that nonpartisan reputation faces serious risks.