U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has announced his resignation after serving for 18 months, as confirmed by the White House on Monday. This departure adds to the series of changes in top military leadership witnessed during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The reason behind Driscoll’s resignation was not disclosed, but reports suggest tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll for his significant contributions to advancing President Trump’s military agenda, emphasizing his leadership during crucial military operations, readiness enhancement, involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more.
The Pentagon had previously announced the departure of Navy Secretary John Phelan in April, marking the first military service head to step down during Trump’s second term. Additionally, Gen. Randy George was removed by Hegseth in April, while Gen. Christopher Donahue resigned unexpectedly in June from his position as the army’s commander in Europe and Africa.
Following these changes, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who rose rapidly under Hegseth, assumed the role of the army’s acting chief of staff. LaNeve’s leadership led to the discontinuation of a drone modernization program advocated by Driscoll, redirecting a European-based army unit from drone development back to traditional infantry operations.
Driscoll, a former ally of George, expressed sadness over his departure, with bipartisan lawmakers also acknowledging the loss. Driscoll, recognized by Trump as a “disruptor and change agent,” served as a key negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution efforts and championed streamlining processes for military contractors to swiftly develop drones and counter-drone capabilities to adapt to evolving warfare strategies globally.
Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 2025, Driscoll’s appointment was backed by a 66-28 vote after a committee hearing focused on modernizing the army’s systems and enhancing recruitment and military industrial base capabilities. With a family history of military service, Driscoll vowed to prioritize soldier needs, drawing on his experience as an armor officer deployed to Iraq from 2009 to 2010.
Moreover, Driscoll’s background includes being an Iraq war veteran, tech investor, and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School. Despite his unsuccessful bid in the 2020 North Carolina congressional primary, Driscoll remains committed to serving the nation’s military interests diligently.
