Resignation Confirmed
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after 18 months in the position, the White House confirmed on Monday, without providing an official reason for the departure. The resignation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, according to accounts that also said a US Army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Driscoll had submitted his resignation. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly issued a statement praising Driscoll's tenure. She said he had been "highly effective in advancing President Trump's agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army," citing his leadership during "historic military operations," a renewed emphasis on "readiness and lethality," and his assistance with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. "The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War," she added.
Context of Leadership Changes
Driscoll's departure comes amid significant upheaval within the Army's senior leadership. In April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed the service's top uniformed officer, General Randy George. In June, General Christopher Donahue, the Army's commander in Europe and Africa, stepped down unexpectedly. General Christopher LaNeve, who has risen quickly under Hegseth, replaced George as acting chief of staff.
Under LaNeve, the service has ended a drone modernisation programme that Driscoll had championed. Army officials said in August that a Europe-based unit that had been developing its own drones was directed to abandon that work and return to its traditional role as an infantry battalion.
Driscoll had worked closely with George and was among those who expressed disappointment over his removal. Speaking to Congress in April, Driscoll recalled visiting George's home with his family after the general's departure.
Driscoll's Background and Relationship with Vance
Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance, had been one of the more prominent civilian figures in the Army leadership. Reports of tension between him and Hegseth have cited Driscoll's close relationship with Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School. Before joining the administration, Driscoll served as an adviser to Vance. He also developed a close working relationship with President Trump, who sent him to help with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Driscoll served as an armour officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010. He worked as a technology investor before entering the administration and previously ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat. The Senate confirmed him in February 2025 by a 66-28 vote. Trump described Driscoll as a "disruptor and change agent" when announcing his nomination.