After months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation from his position, the White House confirmed, without it being clear whether the resignation had been accepted. Driscoll is seen as close to Vice President J.D. Vance, and has also participated in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and pushed for reform of the military's weapons procurement mechanisms.
Published on: 01/09/2026 - 03:13 Last updated: 01/09/2026 - 10:50
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the White House confirmed Monday, in the latest departure of a senior US Defense Department official.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to reveal the news of the resignation, before it was reported by other American media. An informed source told Reuters that Driscoll submitted his resignation to the White House, noting that it was not clear whether it had been accepted.
In response to questions about the resignation, the White House praised Driscoll's performance. His spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, said in a statement that he "was very effective in advancing President Trump's Make America Strong Again agenda at the Department of the Army," noting his leadership during military operations, his efforts to enhance readiness, and his participation in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The White House added that "the US military is stronger than ever" thanks to Driscoll's work alongside President Donald Trump and the Secretary of Defense.
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Driscoll is seen as close to US Vice President J.D. Vance, and the Senate confirmed his appointment to the highest position in the military in February 2025.
During his tenure, he pushed for increasing the army's flexibility to purchase less expensive weapons, and directed sharp criticism at major defense industry companies.
He said last year that the defense industrial base, especially major prime contractors, had “deceived the American people, the Department of Defense and the Army.”
His resignation comes after a series of changes in senior positions in the Ministry of Defense, led by Hegseth. In April, the Secretary of Defense fired US Army Chief of Staff Randy George, in a major change that coincided with the US Army fighting a major war in the Middle East.
France 24/ Agencies
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