US Army Secretary resigns after months of strife with Pete Hegseth

A source familiar with the resignation said the Army chief had raised concerns of modernisation and readiness which were not addressed.

"Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness and Hegseth's blocking those efforts specifically by firing the generals who were responsible," the source told Reuters.

The youngest-ever Secretary of the Army was praised by the White House after his exit was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

"Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.

The Army Secretary's is the latest in a string of high-profile departures - in April, Navy Secretary John Phelan was sacked amid the continued US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military leaders, including the chief of naval operations and US Army Chief of Staff Randy George.

He has also notably cracked down on "woke" issues, previously declaring there would be "no more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction or gender delusion, no more debris".

Dave Fitzgerald, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Army who focused on innovation is also expected to resign within the coming week, according to the source.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the Secretary of War viewed Mr Driscoll as a threat within the Pentagon and had long wanted to oust him.

But his close ties to the Vice President made this difficult, the source added.

Army Secretary is the top civilian role within the US Army, leading active duty, National Guard and reserve soldiers.

Mr Driscoll had focused on pushing the Army to modernise and acquire cheaper weapons - President Donald Trump affectionately called him his "drone guy".

The Iraq war veteran was, in November 2025, called on by the President to push Ukraine to enter peace talks with the Russia despite his lack of diplomatic experience.

Politicians have expressed their disappointment over Mr Driscoll tendering his resignation.

Republican Congressman for North Carolina Pat Harrigan said: "Driscoll brought urgency to an institution that cannot afford complacency.

"Dan's service to this country is far from over."

And fellow Republican representative Steve Womack said Mr Driscoll was a "transformative leader who brought common sense" to his role.

"I had the pleasure of working with him closely, and appreciated how engaged he was from mentoring cadets at West Point to leading the Army at the Pentagon," he said.

"The Army is better equipped and prepared to tackle emerging threats because of his leadership that strengthened the force while putting our Soldiers first."