The White House announced Monday evening that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position, marking the latest departure of a senior military official from President Donald Trump’s administration amid reports of growing tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, praising his performance during his tenure as Army secretary.
Kelly said in a statement that Driscoll played an important role in implementing Trump’s agenda at the Department of the Army by strengthening military readiness and combat capabilities, leading the department through what she described as historic military operations, and contributing to efforts related to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
She added that the U.S. Army had become “stronger than ever” as a result of the work carried out by Driscoll alongside Trump and Hegseth.
A source familiar with the matter also confirmed to Reuters that Driscoll had submitted his resignation to the White House, while The Wall Street Journal was the first outlet to report his departure.
Reported Tensions With the Defense Secretary
The White House has not provided an official reason for Driscoll’s resignation. However, media reports have widely pointed to disagreements and tensions between him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll is also known to have a friendship with Vice President JD Vance, adding a political dimension to his departure.
His resignation comes amid a series of unexpected changes among the U.S. military leadership. Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April, while General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, stepped down unexpectedly in June, according to the Associated Press.
Youngest Army Secretary in U.S. History
Driscoll, 39, became Army secretary in February 2025, making him the youngest person ever to hold the position in U.S. history.
During his tenure, Driscoll became known in military circles as the “drone secretary” because of his strong focus on drones and unmanned systems, which he viewed as a critical component of future warfare.
His resignation comes as US forces face increasing operational pressure amid the war with Iran, with military leaders warning that continued operations could place growing strain on the U.S. military.
