U.S. Army Secretary Resigns as Pentagon Extends War With Iran

Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation as Army secretary to the White House after months of disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the direction of the service. The departure comes while the Pentagon manages a prolonged conflict in the Middle East and lacks several Senate-confirmed senior officials.

Two people familiar with the situation said Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday and expressed concern about the Army’s direction. It remained unclear whether Trump had accepted the resignation or who would serve as acting Army secretary. The White House and Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment.

The disputes reportedly centered on Army modernization initiatives and Hegseth’s removal of senior officers. Those officers included former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, as well as James Mingus and Gen. Christopher Donahue, the U.S. Army commander for Europe and Africa who played a major role in supporting Ukraine.

Driscoll, an Iraq veteran and close ally of Vice President J.D. Vance, had told associates for months that he planned to leave the Pentagon around the midterm elections. Politico expects him to play a role in any 2028 presidential campaign Vance might launch. Deputy Under Secretary of the Army Dave Fitzgerald is also expected to leave the Pentagon this week, according to an anonymous official.

Driscoll and Fitzgerald had advocated investment from private equity and the use of smaller technology companies to make the Army more flexible and innovative. Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve now holds the top military post after Hegseth promoted him to four-star general. LaNeve recently halted a joint U.S.-Ukraine drone-warfare training program and faces congressional opposition to becoming the next permanent Army chief.