Hegseth Directs Army Secretary To Fire Public Affairs Chief
Hegseth Directs Army Secretary To Fire Public Affairs Chief
Hegseth Directs Army Secretary To Fire Public Affairs Chief
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler from his position as chief of Army public affairs and senior adviser to the Army secretary, according to a report by Fox News.
Driscoll is currently in Geneva as part of a U.S. negotiating team working on efforts related to the war in Ukraine, Fox News reported.
Butler previously served as head of public affairs for the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the tenure of Army Gen. Mark Milley as chairman. He had been slated for promotion to brigadier general and appeared for two consecutive years on an Army list of 34 officers selected for advancement.
The promotion list has reportedly been delayed for nearly four months after Hegseth raised concerns about several officers included by the Army selection board. Under federal law, the defense secretary cannot unilaterally remove individual names from a promotion list once it has been submitted.
According to an Army official cited in the report, Butler offered to voluntarily withdraw his name from consideration in an effort to allow the broader list of promotions to move forward.
Driscoll, an Army veteran and a close ally of Vice President JD Vance—who attended Yale Law School with Vance—had resisted Hegseth’s ongoing pressure to fire Butler for months due to Butler’s significant contributions to the transformation of the Army.
“We greatly appreciate COL Dave Butler’s lifetime of service in America’s Army and to our nation,” Driscoll said in a statement. “Dave has been an integral part of the Army’s transformation efforts and I sincerely wish him tremendous success in his upcoming retirement after 28 years of service.”
Butler accompanied Driscoll to Ukraine to help start peace negotiations in November 2025, Fox stated, adding that Hegseth’s firing demand came late last week.
In 2025, Hegseth took charge at the Pentagon and quickly began to dismiss high-ranking officers or push them into early retirement, often without providing reasons or justifications. Among those affected were Adm. Lisa Franchetti, then chief of naval operations; Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. James Mingus, who held the position of vice chief of the Army; Gen. Douglas A. Sims, director of the Joint Staff; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin; Gen. James Slife, vice chief of the Air Force; and Gen. Timothy Haugh, director of the National Security Agency, among others.
Butler, recognized as one of the Army’s top communicators, played a vital role alongside elite special operations units during numerous missions overseas while attached to the Army’s Delta Force from 2010 to 2014.
From 2015 to 2018, he served as the public affairs officer for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During this time, he worked closely with Gen. Scott Miller when Miller was in command of JSOC from 2016 to 2018.
Following Miller’s request, Butler then deployed to Afghanistan when Miller took command there from 2018 to 2019.
Throughout this period, he acted as the chief spokesman and director of communications for all U.S. and NATO forces while Miller held the position of top four-star general in Afghanistan, Fox reported.
A former four-star officer who once commanded U.S. Special Operations said Butler was “the consummate professional, the most competent Public Affairs officer I have ever worked with and a gifted practitioner of strategic communications.”
In 2025, as part of the Army’s 250th birthday celebrations, President Donald Trump acknowledged Butler specifically for his efforts in assisting the Army chief with organizing the parade in Washington, D.C.
In December, a federal appeals court sided with Hegseth and the Trump administration over its reimposed policy barring transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military. At the same time, the appeals panel chided the lower federal district court judge appointed by Joe Biden over her ruling against the Pentagon.
BREAKING: Savannah Guthrie’s husband VANISHES in the middle of the night… and what his wife just revealed will SHOCK you to your core!
In a chilling turn of events that has gripped the nation, whispers of mystery surround the family of NBC’s “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Late-breaking reports suggest her husband, Michael Feldman, suddenly disappeared under the cover of darkness, sparking frantic speculation across social media and beyond.
But in a heartbreaking revelation, Savannah herself has broken her silence with a detail no one saw coming—shifting the spotlight to an even darker family crisis.
The drama began unfolding in early February when Savannah’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home in what authorities describe as a possible abduction.
Blood drops on the porch, tampered security cameras, and chilling doorbell footage pointed to foul play.
Police quickly ruled out family involvement, including Savannah, her siblings, and Michael Feldman, clearing them as suspects.
Yet the search dragged on for weeks, with hundreds of investigators chasing over 20,000 tips and no arrests.
Amid the agony, Michael Feldman—communications consultant and devoted father of two—became a quiet pillar of strength. He shuttled between New York and Arizona, supporting Savannah as she stepped away from the “Today” show.
He made an emotional visit to her colleagues, leaving many in tears as he expressed graтιтude for the outpouring of love. Public sightings showed him somber yet composed, escorting the children through airports and arriving in Tucson to stand by his wife.
Then came the bombshell: Savannah, fighting back tears in a raw Instagram video, announced the family is now offering up to $1 million in reward money for information leading to her mother’s safe return—pushing the total pot to $1.2 million with law enforcement contributions.
“We are aching,” she said. “We still believe in a miracle… but we need to know where she is. Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home.”
The plea came on day 24 of the disappearance, as volunteers defied warnings to scour the desert and conspiracy theories swirled online.
While rumors of Michael’s “sudden vanishing” may stem from misreported sightings or heightened anxiety, the reality is far more tragic: the entire family remains united in desperation.
Feldman has shared FBI-released surveillance of a potential suspect and spoken out sparingly, urging the public to call 1-800-CALL-FBI anonymously.
No ransom demands have been confirmed, but the targeted nature of the incident raises haunting questions.
As the investigation intensifies with federal involvement, the Guthries cling to hope. Savannah’s revelation isn’t about her husband’s disappearance—it’s a desperate cry for answers in a nightmare that has stolen her mother and shaken a nation.
Will the million-dollar reward unlock the truth, or will the darkness of that fateful night forever haunt this high-profile family? The world watches, prays, and waits.
TUCSON’S TERROR ‘Bloody rock & glove found mile from Nancy Guthrie’s home’ as neighbors say they’re too scared to sleep after bed snatch
A couple claim to have found a pair of blood-stained gloves and a rock with droplets on it near to Nancy Guthrie’s homeCredit: Youtube/..News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV..
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie 4 The 84-year-old mother of television host Savannah Guthrie went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on the night of January 31Credit: Reuters
A fresh wave of fear has swept through Tucson after a blood-stained glove and rock were reportedly found just one mile from the home of missing grandmother Nancy Guthrie, as the desperate search for her enters its fourth agonizing week.
A masked intruder wearing black gloves was seen tampering with Nancy’s doorbell camera on the night she went missingCredit: X
The discovery has left residents terrified, with neighbors admitting they are too frightened to sleep at night following the shocking disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, who was allegedly taken from her bedroom in the early hours of February 1.
According to local outlet KVOA, a couple walking through desert terrain on February 11 say they came across two black gloves stained with what appeared to be blood, along with a nearby rock showing dark droplets believed to be blood.
Neighbors and friends of the family are too scared to go to sleep at night since Nancy was taken from her bedroom around 2am on February 1Credit: Getty
The items were allegedly found discarded off Campbell Avenue in the Catalina Foothills area — approximately one mile from Nancy’s home.
Speaking anonymously, the couple said one glove was lying on the ground roughly 10 feet away from the rock, while another glove appeared to be resting directly on top of it.
After taking a closer look, the wife said the glove immediately stood out.
“It didn’t just look like a regular glove. It appeared ripped, and there were dark stains that looked like blood,” she explained.
She added that the markings were concentrated near the wrist and index finger, with visible tearing that raised alarm.
“It looked like something that could have been used for something serious — possibly what authorities have been searching for.”
The husband said the rock beneath the glove appeared to show a dried blood drop, reinforcing their concern.
“It looked like a splatter — not fresh, but dried. Enough that it didn’t feel random.”
Crucially, the couple said they did not touch or move anything, instead photographing the scene and immediately contacting the sheriff’s department.
Deputies responded and questioned the pair, who were later allowed to leave while investigators reportedly remained at the scene until around 2am.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that multiple gloves have been recovered in the surrounding area and sent for analysis, though officials declined to confirm whether the specific items found by the couple were formally logged as evidence.
“Detectives and agents have collected multiple gloves from the area, and analysis is part of the investigation,” the department said.
Authorities also revealed that while several gloves have been tested, no DNA matches have yet been found in the FBI’s database.
However, investigators previously disclosed a significant development: DNA recovered from one glove appears consistent with gloves worn by a masked intruder captured tampering with Nancy’s doorbell camera on the night she vanished.
An Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the DNA profile “appears to match the gloves of the subject seen in surveillance footage.”
Officials have also confirmed that mystery DNA found inside Nancy’s home does not belong to anyone close to her.
Chilling images previously released show drops of blood outside the $1 million Tucson property, alongside signs of forced entry. It remains unclear whether that blood is linked to the same DNA referenced by authorities.
Despite the disturbing clues, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made. Investigators recently acknowledged they possess names and photos potentially linked to the masked figure, but none have been released.
As the investigation stalls, fear has taken hold of the community.
Neighbors say they are on edge, struggling to sleep since Nancy was taken from her bedroom around 2am.
Nevada-based broadcaster and longtime family friend Bill Buckmaster described the situation as a “living nightmare.”
“This has shocked Tucson to the core,” he told NBC News.
“Those who know Savannah and her family are devastated. Some friends are having real trouble even sleeping.”
“We just want Nancy home. We want this to end with a positive resolution.”
Timeline: The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
January 31: Nancy is last seen by family
5:32pm: She visits her daughter’s home for dinner
9:48pm: Nancy is dropped off at her Tucson home; garage door closes shortly after
February 1:
1:47am: Doorbell camera disconnects
2:12am: Motion detected near the camera
2:28am: Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone
11am: Church contacts family after Nancy fails to attend service
12:03pm: Family calls 911
February 2: Home declared a crime scene
February 4: Family releases emotional video pleading for proof of life
