US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his post after approximately 18 months of service, following a period of persistent tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The departure of the 41-year-old official, who is the youngest person to ever hold the position of army secretary, was confirmed by CBS. While the precise details of the behind-the-scenes friction between Driscoll and Hegseth remain undisclosed, reports indicate that their relationship had been strained for months. The White House, Pentagon, and Army have been contacted for comment.
Despite the internal friction, the White House praised Driscoll's tenure in a statement, describing him as "highly effective" in pushing forward President Donald Trump's agenda "to Make America Strong Again" and noting his "outstanding leadership" during military operations. As the top civilian leader of the US Army, Driscoll was responsible for directing active-duty troops, the National Guard, and reserve soldiers. During his time in office, he played a central role in Trump's deployment of the National Guard to various US cities and also assumed the role of acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Driscoll, who previously served as an Army officer in 2007, led a cavalry platoon and deployed to Iraq for several months in 2009. He later earned the nickname "drone guy" from Trump due to his strong advocacy for integrating emerging battlefield technologies. His influence extended into international diplomacy; last year, he took a prominent role in negotiations aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, traveling abroad and holding meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He is also known to be a close ally and personal friend of Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met while studying at Yale Law School.
Driscoll's resignation comes amid a broader wave of high-level departures at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Hegseth has dismissed more than a dozen senior military leaders since taking office, including the chief of naval operations and the vice-chief of staff for the Air Force. Other notable recent departures include Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Army Gen David Hodne, and Maj Gen William Green. Reports suggest that Driscoll shared a close friendship with Gen George, who was reportedly asked to resign by Hegseth prior to his departure.
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