Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns Amid Hegseth Tensions

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after 18 months on the job, according to a White House announcement made Monday. His departure follows reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking another high-profile exit from the Pentagon under President Donald Trump's administration.

The resignation highlights continued upheaval in military leadership, particularly within the Army. Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Trump following a discussion about the current state of the Army, according to an unnamed U.S. Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll's leadership in advancing military operations and restoring readiness.

'Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,' said the statement. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Driscoll's departure comes amid significant turnover at the Pentagon, including the ouster of Army Chief of Staff Randy George in April and Gen Christopher Donahue stepping down as commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa in June.

Driscoll played a key role as a negotiator to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and pushed for cutting red tape for military contractors to develop drones and counter-drone capabilities. He was confirmed by the Senate in February 2025 with a vote of 66-28.

Sources told Reuters that Driscoll had 'brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness,' with Hegseth 'blocking those efforts' by 'firing the generals responsible.' The Trump administration has seen substantial turnover among America's military leadership, including the recent removal of Navy Secretary John Phelan.

According to The Guardian, Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member on the Senate armed services committee, accused Hegseth of having “hollowed out” the army’s senior ranks. Reed stated that Hegseth had fired and blocked the promotions of dozens of senior officers without explanation, including Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and half of all four-star generals.

Driscoll is an Iraq war veteran, tech investor, and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance. He ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020.

The public rupture traces back to April when Hegseth forced out the army’s chief of staff, Gen Randy George, along with two other senior officers. Driscoll later told Congress he considered George “a transformational leader” and said he went to George’s house the day he learned of the firing.

Driscoll's exit adds to a string of senior departures under Hegseth, including Navy Secretary John Phelan, Southern Command chief Adm Alvin Holsey, and Gen Chris Donahue, who commanded US Army forces in Europe and Africa. Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s chief spokesperson, had privately expressed interest in the army secretary post before it became vacant, according to The Hill.

'The Pentagon right now is in some cases rudderless, without leadership at the senior rungs of the uniform offices and even in the civilian offices,' Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat and former Army Ranger who serves on the House armed services committee, told reporters. 'I’m gravely concerned about it.'