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How was the resignation announced?

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation after nearly 18 months in office. According to CBS, the BBC’s US media partner, his departure followed months of disputes between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The White House said in a statement to CBS that the 41-year-old Driscoll had helped advance President Donald Trump’s agenda and showed strong leadership during military operations. BBC is reported to have separately sought comment from the White House, the Pentagon (the US Department of Defense) and the Army.

What do the latest Pentagon departures show?

Driscoll’s exit is the latest in a string of high-profile personnel changes at the Pentagon. In April, Navy Secretary John Phelan abruptly stepped down, while Army Chief of Staff Randy George, General David Hodne and Major General William Green were also among those who left their roles.

CBS reported that the details of the tension between Driscoll and Hegseth are unclear. However, Driscoll was said to be a close friend of Randy George, who reportedly wanted Hegseth to resign.

  • Since Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon, he has reportedly dismissed more than a dozen senior officers.
  • Those removed reportedly include the chief of naval operations and the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force.

What roles did Dan Driscoll hold?

The Army Secretary is defined as the top civilian leader of the US Army. The role also includes oversight of active-duty soldiers as well as the National Guard and reserve forces.

Driscoll previously served in the Army, becoming an officer in 2007, commanding a cavalry platoon and deploying to Iraq for several months in 2009. During his tenure, he was often nicknamed “drone guy” around Trump’s circle because of his focus on new battlefield technologies.

Last year, Driscoll also took a prominent role in talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, handling foreign contacts and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He is also known as a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School, and he played a key role during the Trump era in deploying the National Guard to US cities. In addition, Driscoll served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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