U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has announced his resignation after serving for 18 months, as confirmed by the White House on Monday. This marks another change in leadership within the military during President Donald Trump’s second term, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth being mentioned in connection with the departure.
Although no specific reason was provided for Driscoll’s exit, reports suggest tensions between him and Hegseth. The White House praised Driscoll for his effective leadership in furthering President Trump’s initiatives at the Department of the Army, emphasizing readiness, military operations, and diplomatic efforts with countries like Russia and Ukraine.
In a series of recent developments, Navy Secretary John Phelan was the first military service head to leave during Trump’s current term. Additionally, Gen. Randy George, the army’s top uniformed leader, was removed in April, followed by the unexpected resignation of Gen. Christopher Donahue, the army’s commander in Europe and Africa, in June.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, promoted under Hegseth’s leadership, has taken over as the acting chief of staff, succeeding George. LaNeve’s decision to halt a drone modernization program previously championed by Driscoll has sparked changes within the army, with an infantry battalion in Europe reverting to traditional operations at LaNeve’s directive.
Driscoll, a close associate of George, expressed regret over his departure, drawing bipartisan sympathy from lawmakers. Despite the emotional response, Driscoll acknowledged the prerogative of civilian leadership in selecting military leaders.
President Trump described Driscoll as a “disruptor and change agent” during his nomination in 2024. In his role as army secretary, Driscoll played a pivotal role in negotiating resolutions in conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and streamlining processes for military contractors to enhance drone technologies amidst evolving global warfare tactics.
Upon Senate confirmation in February 2025 with a 66-28 vote, Driscoll prioritized soldier welfare, citing his family’s legacy of military service. With experience as an armor officer, including deployment to Iraq, Driscoll’s dedication to soldiers’ needs was a focal point during his tenure.
Having previously ventured into politics by running for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, Driscoll garnered around eight percent of the vote in a competitive primary field.