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US Army’s civilian leader steps down after 18 months
🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

US Army’s civilian leader steps down after 18 months

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after 18 months, with no official reason given for his departure.
  • The resignation follows reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a series of changes among senior Army leaders.
  • The White House praised Driscoll for advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda and supporting military operations and Ukraine negotiations.

Dan Driscoll has left his post as US Army secretary after only 18 months, adding to a period of upheaval at the service’s senior levels.

No reason was given for the resignation. A US Army official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, said Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump about the Army’s condition before submitting his resignation. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army.

Reported tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have drawn attention to the departure. Driscoll was also an ally of General Randy George, whom Hegseth removed as the Army’s top uniformed leader in April. General Christopher Donahue, who commanded Army forces in Europe and Africa, stepped down unexpectedly in June.

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.

— Anna KellyWhite House spokeswoman praising Driscoll after his resignation.

The changes have also affected a drone modernisation programme Driscoll had supported. General Christopher LaNeve, who became the Army’s acting chief of staff, ordered a Europe-based unit to abandon its drone-building efforts and return to its role as a traditional infantry battalion.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, "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." Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, told Congress in April that civilian leaders had the authority to choose the commanders they wanted.

That being said, the civilian leadership, the design of our system, is that they get to pick the leaders that they want.

— Dan DriscollDriscoll told Congress about civilian authority over military leadership.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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