Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced his resignation on Monday, becoming the latest high-profile figure to leave the Pentagon after months of reported disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll's departure was anticipated, with speculation about his exit circulating for some time. A White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, stated that Driscoll had been effective in advancing President Trump's agenda for the Army, highlighting his leadership during military operations, his focus on readiness and lethality, and his involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. "The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War," Kelly said in a statement.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Driscoll's official departure would occur in the coming days. The reports of clashes between Driscoll and Hegseth involved disagreements over the blocking of several Army officer promotions and the April ouster of a key Driscoll ally. This ally was Army Chief of Staff Randy George.
The firing of George by Hegseth means the Army will be without a Senate-confirmed leader, as President Trump has not yet put forward a nominee to replace him. General Christopher LaNeve, a former Hegseth aide, is currently serving as the interim replacement for George.
Sources cited by The New York Post in April suggested that Driscoll's close relationship with George was a factor in George's dismissal. An official noted that Hegseth had expressed concerns about Driscoll potentially succeeding him, particularly in the wake of a reported group chat incident in March 2025. "This is all driven by the insecurity and paranoia that Pete has developed since Signal-gate. Unfortunately, it is stoked by some of his closest aides who should be trying to calm the waters," one source told the publication.
At the time of George's firing, the White House reportedly backed Driscoll, with a source indicating that Hegseth could not dismiss Driscoll. The same source suggested Hegseth feared Driscoll might be a contender to replace him. The dismissal of George was seen as an effort to remove individuals perceived as allies of Driscoll, who is also reported to be close to Vice President JD Vance.