U.S. Army Secretary Driscoll resigns after clash with Pentagon chief over military modernization

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U.S. Army Secretary Driscoll resigns after clash with Pentagon chief over military modernization
U.S. Army Secretary Driscoll resigns after clashes with Defense Secretary Hegseth
Continuation
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation on Monday after 18 months in office, according to multiple reports confirmed by the White House. The move follows months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the direction of the Army and the dismissal of senior officers, including former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.
Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, raised concerns in his resignation letter about the Army’s transformation and readiness, as well as Hegseth’s blocking of those efforts by firing generals responsible for modernization initiatives, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Fox News first reported the resignation, attributing the information to unnamed sources.
The White House issued a statement praising Driscoll’s tenure. “Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. “The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.”
Driscoll’s departure adds to a series of high-level exits from the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership. In April, Hegseth ousted George, the Army’s top uniformed leader, and Navy Secretary John Phelan also left abruptly. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the Army’s commander in Europe and Africa, stepped down unexpectedly in June. Hegseth has removed several other generals and admirals, including the head of the Navy, as part of a broader shakeup of military leadership.
Driscoll, a 41-year-old Army veteran who served in Iraq, was known for advocating emerging battlefield technologies and was sometimes referred to as Trump’s “drone guy,” according to CBS. He played a role in negotiations aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his tenure.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Driscoll had discussed the current state of the Army with President Donald Trump before submitting his resignation. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army, which declined to comment. It remains unclear whether Trump has accepted the resignation or who will serve as acting Army secretary.
Dave Fitzgerald, deputy undersecretary of the Army, is also expected to leave the Pentagon this week, Politico reported. Fitzgerald had been involved in efforts to incorporate private equity investment to modernize warfare techniques. Both he and Driscoll were key figures in integrating small tech firms into the Army to enhance agility and innovation.
Driscoll, a Yale Law School classmate of Vance, is expected to remain influential in Republican circles, with speculation that he could play a role in any potential 2028 presidential campaign by the vice president, according to Politico. The White House and Pentagon did not respond to requests for further comment.
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