Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Set to Leave Amid Prolonged Conflict with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Dan Driscoll, who was confirmed as secretary of the Army in February, is preparing to exit his post before the end of the year after a drawn-out clash with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The tension escalated following Hegseth’s abrupt removal of Army Chief of Staff Randy George in April, an action insiders tie to a disagreement over the promotion of two Black and two female officers. Hegseth has since targeted other officials linked to Driscoll, notably ousting Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green earlier this year.

Driscoll, a veteran Ranger from the Iraq War and close associate of Vice President JD Vance, was praised by President Donald Trump last month. Indicators of his impending departure include the relocation of his family from the Army secretary’s residence at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to North Carolina, though he remains on base in an apartment. With Driscoll’s exit, the Army would lack a Senate-confirmed secretary, leaving Gen. Christopher LaNeve, Hegseth’s former senior aide, as acting chief of staff.