Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after months of tension with Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position after approximately 18 months, with his departure officially announced by the White House. While the White House lauded Driscoll as "highly effective" in advancing presidential agendas and praised his leadership during military operations, reports indicate his resignation stems from ongoing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll, at 41, was the youngest-ever Army Secretary and had been recognized for his focus on emerging battlefield technology and his involvement in negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Driscoll's resignation is the latest in a series of high-level military departures under Hegseth's tenure, with more than a dozen senior officers reportedly being fired or leaving their posts since Hegseth took office. Notably, Driscoll's ally, General Randy George, was ousted as Army Chief of Staff in April, and General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, also stepped down in June. These changes have contributed to significant upheaval within Army leadership.

The friction between Driscoll and Hegseth reportedly reached a boiling point due to various disagreements. These included Hegseth's actions in removing generals responsible for Army transformation efforts and the subsequent rollback of a drone modernization program that Driscoll had championed. Additionally, sources suggest that Driscoll's close relationship with Vice President JD Vance and his direct access to the White House were seen by Hegseth as an attempt to circumvent the Defense Secretary in decision-making.