U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is set to resign after serving for 18 months, as announced by the White House on Monday. This departure marks another change in the leadership of top military officials during President Donald Trump’s second term. The reason for Driscoll’s resignation has not been disclosed, although there have been reports of tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll for his significant contributions to advancing President Trump’s agenda within the Department of the Army. She highlighted his leadership during crucial military operations, focus on readiness and lethality, as well as his involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Kelly emphasized that Driscoll played a vital role in strengthening the United States Army in collaboration with the commander-in-chief and the secretary of war.
Earlier in April, Navy Secretary John Phelan became the first military service head to depart during Trump’s second term. In a series of leadership changes, Gen. Randy George was removed by Hegseth, and Gen. Christopher Donahue stepped down unexpectedly in June. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who rose rapidly under Hegseth, succeeded George as the acting chief of staff of the army. LaNeve’s directives led to the discontinuation of a drone modernization program previously supported by Driscoll, with an army unit in Europe reverting to a traditional infantry battalion under his command.
Driscoll, known as a disruptor and change agent by Trump, has a background as an Iraq war veteran, tech investor, and former adviser to Vice-President JD Vance. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate in February 2025 followed a committee hearing focused on modernizing army systems, enhancing recruitment, and strengthening the military industrial base. Driscoll, with a family history of military service, expressed his commitment to addressing the needs of soldiers during his tenure as secretary. Additionally, Driscoll unsuccessfully ran in the 2020 Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat.
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