Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has handed his resignation to Donald Trump, the White House said on Monday, making him the latest high-profile official to leave the US defense department. Driscoll was second in line to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and had reportedly been considering an exit amid friction with Hegseth.
White House credits Driscoll’s leadership
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Driscoll had advanced Trump’s agenda at the Department of the Army, with work on readiness and lethality, military operations and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Kelly also said the Army was “more powerful than ever” because of his work with Trump and Hegseth.
Resignation follows months of Pentagon upheaval
The departure follows a period that included leak investigations, budget issues and the removal of senior officials. Army chief of staff Randy George left in April, while Gen Christopher Donahue, who commanded Army forces in Europe and Africa, stepped down unexpectedly in June.
Driscoll was an ally of George and told Congress in April that he and his family visited George after his resignation. He said civilian leaders had the authority to choose the leaders they wanted.
Driscoll’s role in Army modernization
Driscoll is an Iraq war veteran, technology investor and former adviser to Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School. Trump described him as a “disruptor and change agent” when nominating him in 2024.
The Senate confirmed Driscoll in February 2025 by a 66-28 vote. During his tenure, he was chosen as a key negotiator in efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and pushed to reduce delays for contractors developing drones and counter-drone systems.
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