Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns Amid Tension With Pete Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, according to reporting confirmed by ABC News and The Wall Street Journal. The departure follows months of underlying friction between Driscoll and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, leaving the United States Army without a Senate-confirmed civilian leader for the interim.

According to a statement provided to CBS News by White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, Secretary Driscoll has been 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. The White House added that The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.

Timeline and Preceding Purge of Army Leadership

Driscoll’s final day at the Pentagon is scheduled for as early as September 4, based on sources cited by the New York Post. The resignation developed after Driscoll raised direct concerns with the administration regarding Hegseth’s firing of high-ranking generals responsible for military readiness and transformation, according to Fox News reporting.

Five months prior to his exit, War Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George—who served as Driscoll’s top aide—during the Iran war without publicly stating a reason. Additional leadership changes included the dismissals of Gen. David Hodne of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command and Maj. Gen. William Green of the Army’s Chaplain Corps, with the department stating it was time for leadership changes.

Tensions Within the Pentagon

Reports indicate that internal administration friction grew after Hegseth developed concerns regarding a potential replacement. In April, sources told the New York Post that Hegseth attempted to remove Driscoll but was blocked by the White House. Sources noted that Hegseth harbored concerns about being replaced by Driscoll, who maintains a personal friendship with Vice President JD Vance.

Driscoll assumed office following his Senate confirmation in February 2025, passing by a 66-28 vote after an unconfrontational hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. During his tenure, Driscoll oversaw operations and resource allocation for nearly one million active, guard, and reserve soldiers, alongside more than 265,000 civilians. His portfolio included serving as a key negotiator in administration efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, pushing to cut red tape for military drone contractors, and supporting operations involving elite forces.

Succession and Future Leadership

With Driscoll’s departure, the Department of the Army temporarily lacks any Senate-confirmed civilian leadership. An administration official told the New York Post that Hegseth’s top spokesman, Sean Parnell, is viewed as a candidate to succeed Driscoll at the Pentagon. The Pentagon referred inquiries to the Army, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.