U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has announced his resignation after serving in the position for 18 months, as confirmed by the White House on Monday. This departure adds to a series of changes in top military leadership under President Donald Trump’s administration. The reasons behind Driscoll’s resignation remain undisclosed, but reports suggest tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth may have played a role.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s contributions to advancing President Trump’s military agenda, emphasizing his leadership during significant military operations and efforts to enhance readiness and lethality. The statement highlighted Driscoll’s involvement in facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The recent shakeups in military leadership have seen the exit of Navy Secretary John Phelan in April, followed by the removal of Gen. Randy George and Gen. Christopher Donahue from their respective roles within the army. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has taken over as the acting chief of staff, succeeding George. LaNeve’s leadership has led to the discontinuation of a drone modernization program previously supported by Driscoll, redirecting the focus back to traditional infantry operations.
Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, was nominated by President Trump in 2024, described as a “disruptor and change agent.” In his role as army secretary, Driscoll played a key part in negotiating peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as advocating for streamlined processes for military contractors to develop advanced drone and counter-drone technologies.
Following a confirmation by the U.S. Senate in February 2025, Driscoll expressed his commitment to addressing the needs of soldiers, drawing on his family’s history of military service. His tenure included deployments to Iraq and a focus on modernizing army systems and enhancing recruitment efforts. Driscoll’s resignation follows his unsuccessful bid in the 2020 Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat.
The departure of Secretary Dan Driscoll marks another significant change in the leadership landscape of the U.S. military, reflecting ongoing shifts within the Trump administration’s second term.