Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is reportedly preparing to resign, marking another significant departure from Washington amid ongoing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Driscoll is expected to leave his post by the end of the calendar year, though the timing could be sooner.
Driscoll has already relocated his family to North Carolina and has moved out of his official housing at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, a base near Arlington Cemetery where senior defense officials reside, though he has retained a smaller apartment on the base.
The reported friction between Driscoll and Hegseth has centered on several key issues. These include Hegseth's decisions to block the promotion of several Army officers and the April dismissal of Randy George, who was considered a close ally of Driscoll and served as his Chief of Staff. The New York Post reported in April that Driscoll's closeness to George was a factor in the latter's ouster.
Sources cited in The Wall Street Journal suggested that Hegseth's actions, including the firing of George, are driven by insecurity and paranoia stemming from an event referred to as 'Signal-gate' in March 2025. Some aides are reportedly exacerbating these concerns rather than seeking to de-escalate the situation.
The firing of Chief of Staff Randy George leaves the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader, as former President Donald Trump has not yet nominated a replacement. General Christopher LaNeve, a former aide to Hegseth, is currently serving as the interim replacement for George. Both Driscoll's and George's positions require Senate confirmation.
The White House previously backed Driscoll, with a source stating that Hegseth could not dismiss Driscoll at the time. This source also indicated that Hegseth was concerned about Driscoll potentially succeeding him, viewing him as a strong contender for the role. The move to oust George has been interpreted as an effort to remove individuals perceived as allies of Driscoll, who is also said to have ties to Vice President JD Vance.
George, a Biden appointee, reportedly clashed with the Trump administration's strategic vision for the Army. He had been a target for removal within the administration due to his previous selection by the prior administration and his service as a senior military assistant to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. George had also advocated for diversity training within the military.
Reports indicate that Driscoll intervened when Hegseth previously attempted to remove General George, who was confirmed by the Senate in 2023. Officials stated that Driscoll consistently defended George, asserting that he had done nothing wrong and emphasizing that merit should be the basis for decisions.
George's removal followed two significant events: Hegseth's directive to block the promotion of four officers and the controversial appearance of Apache helicopters near Kid Rock's residence. Sources told The Washington Post that George's request to discuss the blocked promotions with Hegseth was denied.
Hegseth has reportedly removed more than a dozen senior officers, including top officials across different branches of the military. Some Pentagon officials have suggested that Driscoll was too focused on his political future rather than his duties managing soldier training and equipment. However, others disputed this, crediting Driscoll with making significant institutional changes and avoiding involvement in 'culture war' issues.