Army Secretary Dan Driscoll handed his resignation to President Donald Trump on Monday, ending months of clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The departure comes as the Pentagon confronts a deepening conflict with Iran and a series of senior personnel changes.
Driscoll’s Exit Amid Pentagon Turmoil
The Wall Street Journal reported that Driscoll is expected to leave the Pentagon within days. The departure follows months of friction between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll, an Army veteran, has driven Trump’s push to restore readiness and lethality as the central focus of the Army. He also took on a special assignment to mediate Russia‑Ukraine talks last year, a task unrelated to his official duties.
His long‑standing friendship with Vice President JD Vance, forged at Yale Law School, has added another layer of tension. The personal connection reportedly fueled disagreements with Hegseth.
The timing is especially fraught as the United States enters its sixth month of conflict with Iran. American forces came under Iranian missile fire over the weekend after the U.S. struck Iranian launchers near the Strait of Hormuz.
Driscoll’s potential exit follows Hegseth’s earlier firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George earlier this year. George, who worked closely with Driscoll, underscores the pattern of personnel turnover.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army. Kelly credited Driscoll with restoring the Army’s focus on readiness and lethality.
She also highlighted his role in facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The administration views his contributions as critical to its broader military objectives.
