U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has decided to step down from his position after serving for 18 months, as announced by the White House on Monday. This marks another high-level military leader departure in the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump. While no specific reason was provided for Driscoll’s resignation, reports suggest tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth may have played a role. The military has witnessed significant changes in leadership, especially within the army.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s contributions, highlighting his efforts in advancing President Trump’s agenda at the Department of the Army. Driscoll’s leadership during crucial military operations, emphasis on readiness and lethality, involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more were commended for strengthening the U.S. army.
In a series of unexpected events, Navy Secretary John Phelan became the first military service head to depart during Trump’s second term in April. Additionally, Gen. Randy George, the army’s top uniformed leader, was suddenly removed by Hegseth in April, and Gen. Christopher Donahue, the army’s commander in Europe and Africa, resigned unexpectedly in June.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who rose swiftly under Hegseth, replaced George as the army’s acting chief of staff. LaNeve’s leadership led to the discontinuation of a drone modernization program championed by Driscoll, with an army unit in Europe reverting to a traditional infantry battalion under his direction.
Described by Trump as “a disruptor and change agent,” Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and tech investor, played a key role as a negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also pushed for streamlined processes for military contractors to develop drones and counter-drone capabilities swiftly in response to evolving global warfare dynamics.
Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 2025, Driscoll’s confirmation process focused on modernizing army systems, enhancing recruitment efforts, and strengthening the military industrial base. Driscoll, who comes from a military family background, vowed to prioritize the well-being of soldiers during his tenure as army secretary. His military service includes deployment as an armour officer in Iraq from 2009 to 2010.
In a bid for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, Driscoll ran in the Republican primary but secured only about eight percent of the vote among multiple candidates. His resignation has drawn both bipartisan and military community expressions of regret at his departure.