WASHINGTON — Dan Driscoll, the 26th secretary of the Army, has submitted his letter of resignation after serving less than two years, according to two Army officials speaking to Breaking Defense.
One official said Driscoll tendered his resignation following a conversation with President Donald Trump about the Army’s condition, without further detail.
The departure follows multiple reports that the secretary would leave before year‑end, possibly as early as Labor Day, amid a prolonged strain in his relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
An Army spokesperson declined to comment and referred the matter to the White House. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Driscoll, stating he had been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda, restoring readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and strengthening the Army.
A Pentagon spokesperson also declined comment and directed inquiries to the Army.
It remains unclear who will replace him. An Army official previously indicated that Undersecretary Michael Obadal would typically assume the role, noting that Obadal and Hegseth have a “great working relationship.” However, Hegseth retains the authority to appoint anyone, and recent internal chatter suggests Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell is interested in the position.
Driscoll’s exit leaves the Army without a Senate‑confirmed civilian leader. Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve is currently acting in the role but has not been nominated; his confirmation faces Democratic opposition and some Republican concerns, notably from Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.
During his tenure, Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, worked closely with former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George on Ukraine ceasefire talks and drone‑warfare lessons—a collaboration that reportedly irritated Hegseth. Driscoll also arranged meetings between Vance, Trump, and troops to discuss Army reform, drawing further displeasure from Hegseth.
Leveraging his private‑equity and venture‑capital background, Driscoll introduced commercial practices into the service and even suggested that large prime contractors could be “successful” if they closed due to inefficiency. He launched the Army’s low‑cost interceptor program and the FUZE acquisition model to accelerate private‑sector development of emerging technologies for soldier use.
This is a developing story.
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