The Pentagon has removed secret orders books from its internal network after top generals formally disagreed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directives to sustain troop and weapons deployments in the Iran war. The documents, stored on the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), were purged from an internal portal, according to reports.
This action followed a formal disagreement, recorded in the classified Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), from commanders overseeing U.S. forces in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as the Navy's top admiral. They 'non-concurred' with Hegseth's order to keep more than 50,000 troops on alert in the Middle East. The SDOB typically tracks the worldwide availability of U.S. military forces and translates presidential military priorities into actionable orders.
It remains unclear if the removed orders books have been moved to a more restricted system or are accessible elsewhere. A former defense official cautioned that the purge could significantly limit direct access to these orders, potentially slowing down urgent decisions regarding the movement of military assets.
Resignation Amidst Military Friction
In a related development, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned approximately 18 months into his tenure. While no public reason was given for his departure, it followed a period of friction with Hegseth over the removal of senior officers involved in Army modernization, including General Randy George. According to reports, Driscoll had warned Hegseth that these dismissals were weakening the Army, particularly as demands from the Iran war intensified.
Former President Trump was reportedly surprised by the number of generals affected by Hegseth's actions and urged Driscoll to remain in his position. Despite this, Driscoll proceeded with his resignation, leaving the Army without a confirmed civilian or uniformed leader while tens of thousands of soldiers remain deployed in the Middle East.
The U.S. and Israel launched their war with Iran six months ago, a conflict that has extended beyond the Trump administration's initial four-to-six-week projection. To date, 18 American service members have been killed, and over 750 have been wounded. The World Health Organization reports that at least 3,375 Iranians have been killed, with more than 33,000 injured.