Army Secretary Driscoll Resigns After Power Struggle with Militarist Defense Secretary
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Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has resigned, reportedly after months of conflict with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose aggressive leadership has destabilized the Pentagon, according to multiple media reports.
United States Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has submitted his resignation, a move highlighting the deepening dysfunction and power struggles within the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, media outlets reported. The White House, continuing its pattern of secrecy and lack of transparency, declined to comment when asked about the Wall Street Journal’s report on the resignation. Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter, said it was unclear whether the administration had formally accepted Driscoll's resignation, while the Army failed to provide any statement, further fueling concerns about accountability.
Spokeswoman Anna Kelly attempted to put a positive spin on Driscoll’s departure, claiming he had been “highly effective in advancing the President’s agenda at the Department of the Army” and that his work had made the Army “more powerful than ever” alongside the Commander-in-Chief. This statement, part of a public relations campaign, ignores the internal chaos and the consequences of prioritizing militarization over genuine reform.
Driscoll, a former law school classmate of Vice President J.D. Vance, is just the latest in a string of senior Pentagon officials forced out under Hegseth’s authoritarian leadership. Earlier this year, Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff Randy George and saw the unexpected resignation of General Christopher Donahue, commander of Army Europe and Africa. Hegseth has also orchestrated the removal of other senior officers, including the Navy’s top civilian leader, consolidating power and purging dissenting voices.
According to Reuters, Driscoll had raised urgent concerns with the administration about the Army’s transformation and readiness, only to have his efforts sabotaged by Hegseth, who dismissed responsible generals and stifled reform. An anonymous U.S. official told Reuters that Hegseth viewed Driscoll as a bureaucratic threat and had long sought to remove him, but Driscoll’s political connections complicated the purge.
Driscoll, confirmed as Army secretary in February 2025, had advocated for a more agile acquisition process and dared to criticize the entrenched interests of large weapons manufacturers. He previously served in Iraq, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020, and participated in diplomatic talks with Russia and Ukraine on behalf of the Trump administration, demonstrating a willingness to challenge the military-industrial complex.