United States Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position, the White House said on Monday, in a development that could further complicate the leadership of the US Army.
Driscoll’s resignation followed reports of a strained relationship between him and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly did not dispute reports by The Wall Street Journal that Driscoll had submitted his resignation, but instead highlighted his contributions to President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army,” Kelly said.
She praised his leadership during US military operations and credited him with helping restore greater emphasis on military readiness and lethality.
According to Kelly, Driscoll also played a role in efforts surrounding negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, among other initiatives.
“The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added.
Driscoll’s departure comes amid reports that his relationship with Hegseth had deteriorated despite his close ties to Vice President JD Vance.
Driscoll and Vance were classmates at law school, and their longstanding relationship was reportedly an important factor in Driscoll’s rise within the administration.
The resignation has already triggered criticism from Democrats in Congress, with Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressing concern about the development.
“I do not welcome Secretary Driscoll’s resignation,” Reed said, accusing Hegseth of causing “lasting harm” to the Department of Defence.
Reed urged Trump to take greater account of the impact of Hegseth’s leadership on the Pentagon.
Driscoll’s exit is particularly significant because the Army is already without a permanent chief of staff.
Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April and has not yet nominated a permanent successor.
If Driscoll’s resignation is accepted before a replacement is appointed, the Army could effectively be left without permanent civilian and uniformed leadership at its highest levels.
Driscoll is an Army veteran who served in Iraq before entering politics. He unsuccessfully contested a congressional seat in 2020 and subsequently became an adviser to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.
He was later appointed Army Secretary, becoming the service’s top civilian official.
His resignation comes as the US military remains heavily engaged overseas, with the Iran war now entering its seventh month.
The latest leadership change is expected to fuel further debate over the direction of the Pentagon and the stability of senior military leadership under the Trump administration.
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