The White House has declined to directly confirm reports that US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned amid reported tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Responding to a Wall Street Journal report about Driscoll’s resignation, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly did not deny the development. Instead, she praised Driscoll’s performance at the Department of the Army and his role in advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Kelly cited Driscoll’s leadership during US military operations, efforts to strengthen military readiness and combat capabilities, and his involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
She said the US Army had become “more powerful than ever” through Driscoll’s work with Trump and Hegseth.
If confirmed, Driscoll’s departure would be the latest exit of a senior military official during the Trump administration.
Driscoll, a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance, was reportedly supported by his relationship with the vice president but had differences with Hegseth.
Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticised Hegseth over the reported resignation, arguing that the defence secretary was causing lasting damage to the Department of Defence.
A former Army officer who served in Iraq, Driscoll unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2020 before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign as an adviser.
The reported resignation comes as the conflict involving Iran enters its seventh month and could leave the US Army without permanent civilian or uniformed leadership.
Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April and has not yet nominated a permanent successor.
