US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after 18 months in office, amid reported tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over senior military leadership.
President Donald Trump accepted Driscoll’s resignation on Monday, August 31, 2026, after he submitted it earlier that day. The White House gave no specific reason for his departure but praised his record in office.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Driscoll advanced the administration’s defence priorities, strengthened the Army’s focus on readiness and combat capability, and contributed to US diplomatic efforts involving Russia and Ukraine.
His departure follows months of reported disagreements with Hegseth, particularly over changes within the Army’s senior ranks.
The tensions came into sharper focus in April, when Hegseth removed Gen. Randy George as Army Chief of Staff without publicly explaining the decision. Driscoll, who had worked closely with George, later told Congress that he did not know why the general was dismissed.
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The leadership shake-up continued with the June departure of Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of US Army Europe and Africa. Navy Secretary John Phelan also left office in April, underscoring the broader turnover among senior US military officials.
An Iraq War veteran and former Army armour officer, Driscoll served from 2007 to 2011, including a deployment to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010.
The Senate confirmed him as Army secretary in February 2025 by a 66-28 vote. Before joining the administration, he worked in technology investment and Republican politics and advised Vice President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School.
As Army secretary, Driscoll championed faster weapons procurement and expanded use of drones and counter-drone technology.
He also took on an unusual diplomatic role. In November 2025, Trump sent him to Ukraine to support US efforts to restart negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Driscoll’s resignation leaves the Army facing another leadership transition as Hegseth continues his broader overhaul of the Pentagon.