US ARMY SECRETARY DAN DRISCOLL RESIGNS AMID TENSIONS AT PENTAGON

United States Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position after months of reported tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, creating another leadership shake-up within the US military establishment.

The White House confirmed Driscoll’s resignation after reports emerged that he had submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump. Driscoll, who had served as the Army’s top civilian official for about 18 months, is expected to leave his position in the coming days.

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s performance, describing him as highly effective in advancing the Trump administration’s agenda at the Department of the Army.

She credited him with strengthening military readiness, focusing on the Army’s combat capabilities and contributing to diplomatic efforts involving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Driscoll’s departure comes against the backdrop of growing friction between him and Hegseth. The disagreement reportedly intensified following Hegseth’s decision to remove Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, a move that Driscoll was reportedly not informed about beforehand.

The former Army secretary had also been pushing for changes to the service’s weapons acquisition system and greater use of emerging technologies, including drones and other modern military capabilities.

Driscoll, an Iraq War veteran and former finance professional, had been viewed as an important figure in the administration’s military modernisation efforts. He also had a close relationship with Vice President JD Vance, with whom he was a former law-school classmate.

His resignation could leave the US Army without a Senate-confirmed civilian secretary and a permanent military chief, following earlier changes in the Army’s senior leadership.

The development has drawn reactions from lawmakers. Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticised the situation and argued that continued leadership changes were damaging the Pentagon.

Other lawmakers and military figures have praised Driscoll’s service, particularly his efforts to improve Army readiness and modernise the service.

Driscoll’s resignation comes at a particularly sensitive time for the United States, with American forces involved in ongoing military operations and the Pentagon facing broader changes in senior leadership.

The White House has not publicly cited a specific reason for Driscoll’s resignation, while reports of his disagreements with Hegseth have fuelled speculation about the circumstances surrounding his departure.

The latest development is expected to further intensify scrutiny of the Trump administration’s approach to military leadership and the direction of its planned reforms within the US armed forces.