Politics
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigns following tensions with Pete Hegseth
The departure marks the latest high-profile exit among civilian and uniformed military leadership at the Pentagon.
The short version
- Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigned after 18 months in the position following internal friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- His resignation follows disputes over military readiness, modern drone initiatives, and the earlier removal of senior officers, including former Chief of Staff General Randy George.
- Congressional Democrats expressed alarm over mounting vacancies across top civilian and uniformed Pentagon ranks, while the White House praised Driscoll's tenure.
- The administration has not yet formally named a replacement, though Hegseth spokesperson Sean Parnell is reportedly under consideration.
Key facts
- Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll submitted his resignation without an official reason provided by the administration after serving 18 months in the role.[The Guardian]
- White House spokesperson Anna Kelly described Driscoll as highly effective in advancing the president's agenda, pointing to his focus on readiness, lethality, and Russia-Ukraine talks.[The Guardian]
- Friction between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth intensified after Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and other senior leaders in April.[The Guardian]
- Driscoll's resignation follows several other senior departures under Hegseth, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and Southern Command leader Adm. Alvin Holsey.[The Guardian]
- Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed publicly criticized Hegseth, alleging that he has hollowed out senior military ranks and removed dozens of top officers without adequate explanation.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The administration has not publicly disclosed the specific details of Driscoll's final discussion with President Donald Trump or confirmed who will be nominated as the next army secretary.[The Guardian]