Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down by the end of the year, potentially leaving the service without a Senate-confirmed civilian or uniformed leader following the April removal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is preparing to leave his position before the end of the year following months of reported tensions with Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to people familiar with the discussions cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Driscoll could depart even sooner, the Journal reported, creating another leadership vacancy at the top of the U.S. Army.
His anticipated departure follows the April firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who was removed by Hegseth without a public explanation.
President Donald Trump has not nominated a permanent replacement for George.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s vice chief of staff and a former senior military aide to Hegseth, is serving as acting Army chief of staff.
“Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down from his role by the end of the year, if not sooner, after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to people familiar with the discussions.
“Driscoll’s departure would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader. Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George as the Army’s chief of staff in April without explanation, and President Trump hasn’t nominated a replacement. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army vice chief who was formerly Hegseth’s senior military aide, is serving as acting Army chief of staff.”
The reported tensions come as Hegseth has pursued substantial changes to military personnel and cultural policies inherited from previous administrations.
Driscoll and Hegseth have not always appeared aligned on those issues.
In an interview last year with Politico journalist Dasha Burns, Driscoll said there was no difference between men and women when it came to serving in combat.
His comments drew attention as Hegseth moved in a different direction on military standards and gender-related policies, seeking to reverse rules associated with the Biden and Obama administrations.
Video of Driscoll discussing the issue was circulated on X.
The expected resignation would leave the Army facing simultaneous uncertainty in its two highest leadership positions.
As Army secretary, Driscoll serves as the service’s senior civilian official, while the Army chief of staff is its highest-ranking uniformed officer. Both positions ordinarily require Senate confirmation.
With George removed and LaNeve serving in an acting capacity, Driscoll’s departure would mean the Army could be operating without a Senate-confirmed official in either of those top posts until replacements are nominated and approved.
The Journal attributed Driscoll’s expected exit to months of friction with Hegseth but did not report a specific departure date.
Driscoll has not yet formally left the position, and he is expected to remain Army secretary until later this year unless his departure is accelerated.
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