US Army Secretary Resigns After Telling Trump Hegseth Abused His Authority

Dan Driscoll’s resignation has brought tensions among senior Pentagon officials into the open. The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Driscoll told President Donald Trump that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had interfered excessively in military personnel decisions and Army modernization plans, causing serious damage to the service.

Trump reportedly tried to persuade Driscoll to remain until after the midterm elections, reflecting his support for an official who has a close relationship with Vice President JD Vance. Driscoll nevertheless formally left office on September 3. He is now expected by some observers to join a potential Vance campaign for the 2028 presidential election.

The shake-up comes as the US military deploys heavily in the Middle East while confronting the conflict with Iran and drone threats. The Army and Navy are both operating without civilian service secretaries formally confirmed by the Senate, according to the report.

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A necessary part of reform.

Since taking office, Hegseth has sharply disrupted the military’s traditional promotion system. He recently cancelled the promotion cases of several Army brigadier generals and began removing officers viewed as out of step with government policy. Pentagon officials strongly denied that the department had descended into chaos, describing the actions as “a necessary part of reform.”

The moves have drawn strong congressional opposition. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who cast a decisive vote supporting Hegseth’s appointment, called his leadership and management “extremely incompetent.” Tillis, who is preparing to retire, said he regretted that vote and publicly urged Trump to replace the defense secretary.

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Extremely incompetent.