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 mounting internal friction between the Army’s top civilian leader and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A U.S. official indicated that Driscoll held a discussion with President Trump regarding the current state of the Army before formally submitting his resignation. In conjunction with this transition, Deputy Army Undersecretary Dave Fitzgerald is also expected to vacate his post later this week.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’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 Army remains more powerful than ever due to his collaboration with the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of War.
Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, had served as the Army’s civilian head since his Senate 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. Additionally, he participated in diplomatic efforts involving Russian and Ukrainian officials to support the President’s goal of ending the war in Ukraine, while also overseeing plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany.
Despite these accomplishments, behind-the-scenes conflict with Hegseth persisted. Sources familiar with the situation noted that Driscoll had expressed concerns to the administration regarding the Army’s transformation initiatives and the removal of key generals responsible for those efforts. Specifically, Hegseth previously pushed out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, a close associate of Driscoll, and Gen. Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, both of whom had filed for retirement.
The tension was exacerbated by the handling of a newly formed Army drone battalion designed to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine. While George and Driscoll supported the unit as part of the broader Army Transformation Initiative—which emphasized unmanned systems—the Army began phasing out the battalion this month following disputes between its supporters and acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve.
Driscoll’s exit follows a series of high-level military departures over the past year. Other notable figures who have retired or left their roles include Navy Secretary John Phelan, who reportedly faced conflicts with other officials, as well as U.S. Southern Command commander Adm. Alvin Holsey. 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 has reported, but there have been behind-the-scenes tensions between Hegseth and Driscoll. 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. The report also notes that pete Hegseth Wants a ‘Warrior Culture.’ Does He Know What That Means.
Source: CBS News
