Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned, submitting his decision to President Donald Trump. The resignation follows months of reported tensions with War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin highlighted these issues and ongoing developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict on ‘America Reports.’
Senator’s Criticism
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., criticized Hegseth, urging President Trump to appoint a new Pentagon leader committed to empowering military talent. Tillis expressed his views in a Wednesday post on X, where he praised Driscoll and former Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George for their innovative approaches to military operations.
Tillis accused Hegseth of creating a leadership void by forcing talented officers into retirement. He blamed Hegseth for igniting culture wars rather than focusing on national defense priorities.
Tillis, who has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for eight years, told Politico Magazine earlier that Hegseth is incompetent and doing poorly in his role.
Official Statements
The War Department declined to comment. However, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended Hegseth, stating that after Joe Biden’s Pentagon emphasized ‘woke’ ideology, Trump and Hegseth realigned the department with a focus on readiness and effectiveness. She cited military operations as evidence of Hegseth’s success.
In a statement posted on the Secretary of the Army’s official X account, Driscoll described his resignation as a point of departure for his mission within the Trump administration. He highlighted his efforts in modernizing the Army and acknowledged Hegseth’s role in these achievements.
Background on Resignation
A source familiar with Driscoll’s resignation mentioned that Driscoll had concerns regarding Army transformation and readiness. He reportedly raised these issues with the administration and viewed Hegseth’s actions as obstructive, notably through the firing of responsible generals.
This report features contributions from Fox News Digital’s Sophia Compton, Jennifer Griffin, and Liz Friden. The article was compiled by writer Alex Nitzberg for Fox News Digital.