The White House announced on Monday that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is resigning after serving for 18 months. The departure of Driscoll, who is known to be a friend of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, comes amidst reported tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. This move is part of a series of changes in top military leadership, particularly within the army.
According to White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, Driscoll has been instrumental in advancing President Trump’s objectives at the Department of the Army. His leadership has played a significant role in historical military operations, readiness, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more, making the U.S. Army stronger under his guidance.
In a recent shakeup, Navy Secretary John Phelan became the first military service head to step down during Trump’s second term in April. Additionally, Gen. Randy George was removed by Hegseth in April, while Gen. Christopher Donahue resigned unexpectedly in June, leading to Gen. Christopher LaNeve assuming the position of acting chief of staff under Hegseth’s direction.
Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and tech investor, was praised by Trump as a disruptor and change agent when he was nominated for the role in 2024. During his tenure, Driscoll was actively involved in negotiating to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and promoting the development of drones and counter-drone capabilities for military contractors. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 2025 with a 66-28 vote after a hearing focused on modernizing army systems and enhancing recruitment and military capabilities.
Having a family history of military service, Driscoll was committed to addressing the needs of soldiers as the secretary. His background includes serving as an armour officer and running for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020. Driscoll’s departure has been met with mixed reactions, with allies and lawmakers expressing their regrets over his exit.
