Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Considers Resigning Amid Hegseth Rift
WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is considering stepping down from his post by the end of this year following months of behind-the-scenes friction
WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is considering stepping down from his post by the end of this year following months of behind-the-scenes friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Two people familiar with the matter confirmed the potential departure, which could signal a widening leadership shakeup within the Pentagon.
The tension between Driscoll and Hegseth has steadily intensified over the past few months, deeply impacting top military planning. If Driscoll resigns, it would leave the Army's civilian leadership vacant at a time when the Trump administration is pushing for sweeping changes in military structure and operations.
Behind-the-Scenes Military Friction
The strain between the two top officials escalated sharply in early April. Hegseth ousted Gen. Randy George, the Army Chief of Staff and a close ally of Driscoll, by demanding he step down and take early retirement. In a parting email to Driscoll and other military staff, George wrote that American service members deserved "courageous leaders of character."
Currently, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who previously served as Hegseth's senior military aide, is filling the chief of staff role. Trump has not yet announced a permanent successor. Signs of Driscoll's preparations to leave the administration emerged during the summer, when he and his family vacated the official Army secretary residence at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
Clashes Over Drone Strategy
Driscoll's potential exit also follows deep disagreements over tactical programs. The Army recently planned to phase out the Unmanned Assault Battalion, a specialized drone unit formed just last year by Gen. George and Gen. Chris, the former commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The unit was tasked with studying drone warfare lessons, particularly from the conflict in Ukraine.
For ordinary citizens and defense personnel, these leadership disputes have direct consequences on military readiness. Major policy shifts, such as the dissolution of specialized technological units, alter how the nation prepares for modern conflicts. This friction also coincides with broader Trump administration strategies, including unexpected proposals to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany and plans to overhaul the taxpayer-funded military news outlet Stars and Stripes.
A Pentagon spokesperson directed inquiries regarding Driscoll's status to the Army, which has not yet commented publicly on the ongoing transition discussions.
