US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position amid reported tensions with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the White House has confirmed.
The White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, Anna Kelly, confirmed Driscoll’s departure on Monday while praising his performance under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army,” Kelly said.
She also commended his leadership during US military operations, saying he helped restore emphasis on military readiness and lethality and assisted with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Kelly added that the Army was “more powerful than ever” because of Driscoll’s work with Trump and Hegseth.
Driscoll’s resignation followed reports of growing tensions between him and Hegseth, according to the Wall Street Journal.
His departure has also drawn criticism from Democrats, with the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed, blaming Hegseth for the situation.
“I do not welcome Secretary Driscoll’s resignation,” Reed said, adding that it was time for Trump to recognise the “lasting harm” Hegseth was causing to the Department of Defence.
Driscoll, a former Army officer who served in Iraq, was previously a law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance.
He unsuccessfully contested a congressional seat in 2020 before later joining Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign as an adviser.
His resignation comes as the United States remains involved in the Iran war, now entering its seventh month, potentially leaving the Army without permanent civilian or uniformed leadership.
Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April and has yet to nominate a permanent replacement.
The development could further raise questions about leadership and stability within the US Army at a time of heightened military activity around the world.
