Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has handed in his resignation to President Donald Trump, ending a tenure marked by growing friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The move, confirmed by White House spokesperson Anna Kelly on Monday, comes after months of behind-the-scenes clashes over the Army's direction and the ouster of several senior officers.
Driscoll, the civilian leader of the U.S. Army, is expected to leave the Pentagon in the coming days. Kelly praised his work in a statement to CBS News, saying he was "highly effective in advancing President Trump's agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more." She added, "The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War."
Army Leadership Faces Another Shake-Up
Driscoll's exit leaves the Army without a Senate-confirmed civilian or military leader. Gen. Christopher LaNeVe is currently serving as acting chief of staff after Hegseth fired his predecessor, Gen. Randy George. Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal will step in as the highest-ranking civilian once Driscoll departs.
This resignation is a notable reversal from Driscoll's stance earlier this year. Back in April, he publicly stated he had no plans to resign, even as tensions with Hegseth were becoming increasingly apparent. Hegseth had fired George that same month, a move that hit Driscoll hard given their close working relationship on Army modernization, including the adoption of new battlefield technology.
Before submitting his resignation, Driscoll spoke directly with President Trump about the state of the Army, according to a U.S. official cited by CBS News.
Hegseth's Broader Pentagon Overhaul
Driscoll's departure is part of a larger restructuring Hegseth is pushing across the military. Hegseth has been vocal about reducing the number of generals and admirals by 10% overall and cutting four-star positions by 20%. The changes have rippled beyond the Army; Navy Secretary John Phelan also left in April, shortly after George's firing.
As Driscoll's exit loomed, Hegseth was reportedly considering Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell as a possible successor. Parnell was said to be on Hegseth's short list for the role.
Driscoll Pushed Military Modernization
Driscoll, a former Army officer and law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, was a strong advocate for modernizing the military. During his tenure, private companies pledged more than $25 billion toward data centers, critical-mineral refineries, and dining facilities on Army bases. He also worked with Army Deputy Undersecretary Dave Fitzgerald to bring private investment into military infrastructure. Fitzgerald, who served in uniform with Driscoll, is also expected to leave his post later this week.
Despite these efforts, Driscoll had raised concerns with the Trump administration about the Army's transformation initiatives and Hegseth's removal of generals involved in those efforts, according to the report.
What Comes Next For The Army
LaNeVe's path to a permanent role as Army chief could face hurdles, with some Republicans expressing unease about Hegseth's preference for him. The coming weeks will likely reveal whether the Pentagon's leadership churn continues or stabilizes.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
