U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has resigned amid months-long tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to U.S. media reports.
When asked about Driscoll’s resignation, the White House did not deny it, but it remains unclear whether the White House has formally accepted it.
The U.S. Department of the Army declined to comment on the matter. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement that Secretary Driscoll played an effective role in advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda within the Department of the Army.
She added that he provided strong leadership during historic military operations, refocused attention on troop readiness and warfighting capability, and also assisted in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“Working alongside the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of Defense, Driscoll’s efforts have resulted in a stronger U.S. Army,” she said.
Driscoll, a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, is the latest senior official to leave the Pentagon under Hegseth. In April, Defence Secretary Hegseth removed U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George.
In June, General Christopher Donahue, who commanded U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, also suddenly stepped down. Hegseth has also dismissed several other generals and admirals, including the head of the U.S. Navy.
According to Reuters, Driscoll had raised concerns with the Trump administration about Army restructuring and warfighting readiness. A source said Driscoll complained that Hegseth was obstructing those efforts, particularly by firing generals responsible for military reforms.
Driscoll was confirmed as U.S. Army Secretary in February 2025. He pushed for changes in the Army’s procurement system to acquire low-cost, more effective weapons and was critical of major defence contractors.
The Army Secretary’s primary responsibilities include training soldiers and providing them with equipment. Media reports said Hegseth viewed Driscoll as a threat within the Pentagon bureaucracy and had long wanted him removed.
However, Driscoll’s close ties to Vice President JD Vance made that difficult. An official said the firing of General Randy George came as a shock to Driscoll and further worsened his rift with Hegseth.
Driscoll also gained prominence outside the Pentagon when President Trump named him to participate in talks with Moscow and Kyiv aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. Assigning such a diplomatic role to an Army Secretary was considered highly unusual.
Driscoll served during the Iraq War. He ran for U.S. Congress in 2020 but was unsuccessful, and later worked as an adviser to Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. Let me know if you want this shortened for a news ticker or rewritten in a more formal AP-style format.
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