US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns After 18 Months Amid Hegseth Conflict
Quick Look
- US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after about 18 months in office, following months of conflict with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The 41-year-old, known as Trump's 'drone guy' for his work on battlefield tech and Ukraine peace talks, is the latest high-profile military departure amid Hegseth's purge of senior officers.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Dan Driscoll, appointed as US Army Secretary about 18 months ago, became known for advancing Trump's defense agenda, including battlefield technology initiatives and Ukraine peace talks. His tenure included deployments to Iraq and leadership roles in National Guard domestic operations.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation after about 18 months in the role.
His departure was confirmed by CBS, the BBC's US media partner, which reported it came after months of conflict between him and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The youngest-ever army secretary has often been referred to as President Donald Trump's "drone guy".
Driscoll, 41, has been "highly effective" in advancing Trump's agenda "to Make America Strong Again" and provided "outstanding leadership" during military operations, the White House said in a statement given to CBS.
The BBC has contacted the White House, Pentagon and Army for comment.
Driscoll is the latest in a string of recent high-profile military leaders to depart, including Navy Secretary John Phelan who abruptly quit in April.
Other notable departures include Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Army Gen David Hodne and Maj Gen William Green.
Since entering the Pentagon, Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military officers, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force's vice-chief of staff.
The details of the behind-the-scenes friction between Driscoll and Hegseth are unclear but CBS notes that the army secretary is good friends with George, who was reportedly asked by Hegseth to resign.
The post of army secretary is the top civilian leader of the US Army, directing active duty troops, along with the National Guard and reserve soldiers.
Driscoll previously served in the Army and was an officer in 2007 before leading a cavalry platoon and deploying to Iraq for several months in 2009.
As army secretary, Driscoll became known as Trump's "drone guy" due to his embrace of emerging battlefield technologies.
He took on a leading role last year in talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, taking on foreign trips and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He's also a close ally and friend of Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School.
During his tenure as head of the US Army, he was a key figure in Trump's deployment of the National Guard to US cities.
He also took over the role of acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The White House will appoint a new Army Secretary within weeks
Likely · Within weeks
Congressional hearings may examine the pattern of military leadership departures under Hegseth
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific issues caused the conflict between Driscoll and Hegseth?
- Will Driscoll's resignation trigger further departures in military leadership?
- Who will replace Driscoll as Army Secretary?
- How will this affect ongoing Ukraine peace initiatives?
