Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation to White House after tensions with Pete Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down in the coming days after the White House accepted his resignation, according to a person familiar with the matter and a White House official. NBC News reported last week that Driscoll had told close associates that he wanted to leave the administration by Labor Day. Driscoll visited the White House last week to discuss his future, according to three U.S. officials, but it wasn’t clear what came of the meeting. Driscoll, who has been well regarded by many Republicans and Democrats, has been rumored to be leaving the administration for months. He has served in the role since February 2025, and has been a close associate of Vice President JD Vance. Driscoll is the latest high-profile official at the Defense Department to depart; Navy Secretary John Phelan and the Army chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, were pushed out this spring. The Wall Street Journal first reported Driscoll’s resignation. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll in a statement Monday evening. “Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” Kelly said. “The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added. Driscoll had differed over a number of issues with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who removed George, Phelan and other high-ranking Pentagon officials. He has also blocked the promotions of several senior Army officers. “Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness and Hegseth’s blocking those efforts specifically by firing the generals who were responsible,” a source familiar with the matter told NBC News on Monday. The Pentagon directed any questions about Driscoll to the Army, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.