US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns After 18 Months
On Monday, the White House announced the resignation of US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll after 18 months in office. Although no specific reason was given, reports suggest ongoing tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. A close associate of Vice-President J.D. Vance, Driscoll is the latest high-ranking military official to depart during the Trump administration, amidst considerable turmoil within the army. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly commended Driscoll for his contributions to President Trump's initiatives, including overseeing significant military operations and facilitating Russia-Ukraine discussions. Following the removal of General Randy George in April and General Christopher Donahue's unexpected exit in June, General Christopher LaNeve, who has quickly advanced under Hegseth, has taken over as acting chief of staff. Under LaNeve's leadership, the army will terminate a drone modernization initiative that Driscoll supported, directing a Europe-based unit to discontinue its drone activities and revert to traditional infantry operations.
Key facts
- Dan Driscoll resigned as US Army Secretary after 18 months.
- White House announced resignation on Monday.
- No reason given, but tensions with Pete Hegseth reported.
- Driscoll is a friend of Vice-President J.D. Vance.
- White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll's performance.
- Pentagon referred questions to US Army; no response yet.
- General Randy George was ousted in April; General Christopher Donahue stepped down in June.
- General Christopher LaNeve replaced George as acting chief of staff.
- LaNeve is ending a drone modernisation programme Driscoll had heralded.
Entities
Institutions
- US Army
- White House
- Pentagon
- Department of the Army
Locations
- United States
- Europe
- Africa