Loyalty Purge Rocks Pentagon — Decorated Colonel OUT

Aerial view of the Pentagon — PENTAGON PURGED

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the removal of a highly-regarded Army colonel nominated for promotion, signaling that loyalty to the Trump administration now matters more than merit in military leadership decisions.

Story Snapshot

Hegseth forced out Col. Dave Butler, the Army’s chief public affairs officer, despite his nomination for brigadier general
Butler’s prior service as spokesman for Gen. Mark Milley appears to be the key factor behind his removal
Army Secretary resisted the firing for months, praising Butler’s critical role in transformation efforts
The removal is part of a broader Pentagon purge, creating fear among senior military officers

Decorated Officer Forced Into Retirement After Milley Connection

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler from his position as Chief of Army Public Affairs last Thursday, despite Butler being on the promotion list to brigadier general for two consecutive years.

Butler, who served 28 years in the Army and received personal praise from President Trump for organizing the Army’s 250th birthday parade, opted to retire rather than continue serving under a cloud of political suspicion. His primary transgression appears to be his previous role as chief spokesman for retired Gen. Mark Milley during Milley’s tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the removal of a senior Army public affairs official who previously served under former Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley, according to reports. pic.twitter.com/fzBnsPAjFE

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 17, 2026

Army Secretary Forced to Comply Despite Months of Resistance

Army Secretary Driscoll, a Yale Law School classmate of Vice President JD Vance, resisted Hegseth’s pressure to fire Butler for several months, recognizing Butler’s valuable contributions to Army transformation efforts. The Washington Post reported this was at least the second time since September that Hegseth pushed for Butler’s removal.

Driscoll was in Geneva negotiating Ukraine peace when Hegseth issued the final order, forcing the Army Secretary to choose between protecting a valued adviser and maintaining his own position. A former four-star commander described Butler as “the consummate professional, the most competent Public Affairs officer I have ever worked with and a gifted practitioner of strategic communications.”

Political Purge Disguised as Personnel Management

The timing and circumstances of Butler’s removal expose the politicization of military personnel decisions under Hegseth’s leadership. Butler voluntarily removed himself from the promotion list to help unlock other officers’ promotions after Hegseth held up the entire list for nearly four months over concerns about four to five officers.

This demonstrates how political considerations now trump merit-based advancement in military careers. Butler deployed to Afghanistan from 2018-2019, serving as chief spokesman and director of communications for all U.S. and NATO forces under Gen. Scott Miller, and traveled to Ukraine in November 2025 to assist with peace negotiations.

Milley Vendetta Extends to Former Staff Members

The Trump administration’s campaign against Gen. Mark Milley has expanded beyond the retired general himself to target officers who served under him. After Milley criticized Trump as “a fascist to the core” following his 2023 retirement, the administration stripped his security clearance, removed his protective detail despite ongoing threats, ordered an inspector general investigation, and removed his portrait from Pentagon halls.

Now, Hegseth is systematically identifying and removing officers associated with Milley’s tenure, regardless of their performance or qualifications. This creates a dangerous precedent where past professional associations become grounds for removal, chilling honest communication and institutional independence within military ranks.

Climate of Fear Spreads Through Senior Military Leadership

Multiple reports confirm that Hegseth’s pattern of unexplained firings has created widespread fear, uncertainty, and unwillingness to speak up among senior military leaders. Officers who spent decades building careers based on competence and dedication now find themselves vulnerable to removal for political reasons having nothing to do with job performance.

This approach to military leadership threatens the merit-based promotion system that has long been a strength of American armed forces. When officers fear speaking candidly or making decisions based on military judgment rather than political calculation, national security suffers.

The loss of experienced professionals like Butler during critical periods such as Ukraine peace negotiations demonstrates the real-world costs of prioritizing political loyalty over operational capability.