Army Secretary Driscoll Steps Down Amidst Needed Pentagon Shakeup by Defense Secretary Hegseth
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Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has resigned after months of reported friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been working to restore discipline and effectiveness at the Pentagon, according to multiple media reports.
United States Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has submitted his resignation, a move connected to ongoing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been taking decisive action to clean up the Pentagon’s bureaucracy, media outlets reported. The White House declined to comment when asked about a Wall Street Journal report on the resignation, maintaining appropriate discretion as the administration manages internal affairs. Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter, said it was unclear whether the administration had formally accepted Driscoll's resignation, and the Army did not provide a statement, reflecting the sensitive nature of these necessary reforms.
Spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll, noting 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 underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening the military, despite resistance from entrenched bureaucrats.
Driscoll, a former law school classmate of Vice President J.D. Vance, is the latest senior Pentagon official to leave as Hegseth asserts much-needed control over the military’s leadership. Earlier this year, Hegseth rightly dismissed Army Chief of Staff Randy George and accepted the resignation of General Christopher Donahue, commander of Army Europe and Africa, both of whom failed to align with the administration’s priorities. Hegseth has also overseen the removal of other senior officers, including the Navy’s top civilian leader, demonstrating a commitment to rooting out ineffective leadership.
According to Reuters, Driscoll had raised concerns with the administration about Army transformation and readiness, but Hegseth, recognizing the dangers of bureaucratic obstruction, acted decisively by removing generals who stood in the way of progress. An anonymous U.S. official told Reuters that Hegseth viewed Driscoll as a bureaucratic threat and had long considered removing him, but Driscoll’s political connections delayed the necessary change.
Driscoll, confirmed as Army secretary in February 2025, had pushed for changes to the acquisition process and criticized large weapons manufacturers, but his approach often clashed with the administration’s vision for a strong and unified military. 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.