Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down from his position, a move confirmed by the White House on Monday. His departure follows a period of internal friction between himself and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised the outgoing secretary’s tenure, stating, “Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more.” Kelly added that the United States Army is “more powerful than ever” due to his collaboration with the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of War.
According to a U.S. official, Driscoll personally discussed the current state of the Army with President Trump before submitting his resignation. Additionally, Deputy Army Undersecretary Dave Fitzgerald is expected to vacate his office later this week.
Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, had served as the Army’s top civilian leader since his confirmation in February 2025. His time in office included overseeing the Delta Force operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and managing the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also participated in high-level discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials regarding the war in Ukraine and oversaw plans to reduce U.S. force levels in Germany.
Despite these accomplishments, internal reports indicate significant behind-the-scenes tension between Driscoll and Hegseth. A source familiar with the situation noted that Driscoll had raised concerns with the administration regarding the Army’s transformation initiatives and Hegseth’s decision to remove several generals who were central to those efforts.
The friction was highlighted by the ousting of Gen. Randy George, a close associate of Driscoll, who was asked to retire as Army chief of staff earlier this year. Similarly, Gen. Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, also filed for retirement. Both officers had been vocal supporters of a new drone battalion designed to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine—a unit the Army recently began phasing out following disagreements with acting Army chief of staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve.
Driscoll’s exit follows a broader trend of high-level military departures. Earlier this year, Navy Secretary John Phelan left his post amid reported conflicts with other officials. Other notable departures in the past year include Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, alongside the retirements of George and Donahue.
The administration’s recent policy shifts have also included broader directives, such as the renaming of geographic features like “Lake America” following executive orders, and the expansion of third-country deportation programs for Afghan nationals. Meanwhile, legal challenges continue to shape military and social policy, including a recent federal ruling preventing the deportation of students based on their criticism of Israel. The report also notes that and his time leading the Army coincided with a plan to cut the number of U.S, trump’s push to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. The report also notes that margaret Brennan contributed to this report. The report also notes that google updates maps to show “Lake America” in U.S. The report also notes that expanding “third country” deportations, iCE sends Afghans and others to Africa. The report also notes that federal judge rules, trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel.
