U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has announced his resignation after serving in the position for 18 months, as disclosed by the White House on Monday. This departure adds to a series of high-profile exits among top military figures under President Donald Trump’s second term. While no specific reason was provided for Driscoll’s resignation, reports suggest tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth may have played a role.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s contributions, highlighting his efforts in advancing President Trump’s military initiatives, enhancing readiness and lethality, and facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Kelly emphasized that the U.S. Army has strengthened significantly under Driscoll’s leadership alongside the president and the secretary of war.
This move follows other recent changes in military leadership, including the sudden departure of Navy Secretary John Phelan earlier in April, making him the first military service head to step down during Trump’s second term. Additionally, Gen. Randy George was removed from his position by Hegseth in April, and Gen. Christopher Donahue, the army’s commander in Europe and Africa, unexpectedly resigned in June.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve has taken over as the acting chief of staff for the army, succeeding George under Hegseth’s leadership. LaNeve has decided to discontinue a drone modernization program initiated by Driscoll, redirecting an army unit in Europe from drone development back to traditional infantry duties.
Driscoll, a former ally of George, expressed regret over his colleague’s departure, a sentiment echoed by members of both Republican and Democratic parties. Trump had previously described Driscoll as a “disruptor and change agent” when nominating him for the position in 2024. Driscoll played a crucial role as a negotiator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, advocating for streamlined processes for military contractors to enhance drone technology and counter-drone capabilities amid evolving global warfare tactics.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Driscoll in February 2025 with overwhelming support, emphasizing the importance of modernizing army systems, bolstering recruitment efforts, and strengthening the military industrial base. Driscoll’s family history of military service influenced his commitment to prioritize soldiers’ needs during his tenure as army secretary. Additionally, Driscoll’s military background as an armour officer, including deployment to Iraq from 2009 to 2010, further shaped his dedication to serving the armed forces.
In a bid to represent North Carolina in Congress, Driscoll ran in the 2020 Republican primary, garnering approximately eight percent of the vote among multiple contenders.