Politics & Governance
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation, the White House confirmed, after reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly did not deny a Wall Street Journal report that Driscoll had resigned. She said Driscoll had been “highly effective” in advancing President Donald Trump's agenda at the Department of the Army and cited his leadership during US military operations, work on readiness and lethality, and assistance with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
If accepted, the resignation would mark another departure of a senior military leader under Trump's administration. It could also leave the Army without permanent civilian or uniformed leadership. Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April and has not nominated a permanent successor.
Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he did not welcome Driscoll's resignation and blamed Hegseth, saying Trump should recognise what Reed called lasting harm to the Defense Department.
Driscoll is an Army veteran who served in Iraq, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and later advised Trump's 2024 re-election campaign. He is a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance.
Update
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he did not welcome Driscoll's resignation.
Reed blamed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and said President Donald Trump should recognise what Reed called lasting harm to the Defense Department.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 02:53:50 UTC.
Update
The White House statement followed reports of tensions between Dan Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
If accepted, Driscoll's resignation would be another senior military leadership departure under President Donald Trump's administration.
Driscoll is a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, served in Iraq, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and later advised Trump's 2024 re-election campaign.
AFP reported that the resignation could leave the Army without permanent civilian or uniformed leadership, with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George fired in April and no permanent successor nominated.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 August 2026 at 23:40:56 UTC.
Update
The item identifies the official as Dan Driscoll.
The resignation followed Wall Street Journal reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly praised Driscoll's work in a statement.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 August 2026 at 23:04:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material says Driscoll has submitted his resignation but does not say it has been accepted.
The extent and precise nature of reported tensions between Driscoll and Hegseth are not established in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .