Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned, adding to the list of recent high-level departures at the Pentagon. Reports suggest ongoing tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth influenced his decision. Driscoll, who has served since February 2025, was closely associated with former Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, who was also removed by Hegseth.
The Wall Street Journal first announced Driscoll’s resignation. Hegseth has come under scrutiny for several significant personnel changes. In a statement to Newsweek, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s contributions. She highlighted his role in advancing President Trump’s military agenda and his involvement in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“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,” Kelly stated.
Driscoll played an important diplomatic role under Trump, notably in efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. He also pushed for advancements in drone technology, pivotal as unmanned systems become integral to modern warfare.
The pace of changes under Hegseth, along with Trump’s leadership, has drawn questions and concern. Rajan Menon, a professor emeritus of International Relations, remarked on the unprecedented level of turmoil.
“I can’t recall a time in recent decades when there has been so much upheaval in the senior levels of the DoD and the highest echelons of the officer corps. It goes well beyond Driscoll, so one can’t credibly shrug it off and say that it doesn’t matter or that it’s being blown out of proportion by the press,” Menon told Newsweek.
Recent Pentagon Leadership Changes
- Dan Driscoll reported to be stepping down as Army Secretary
- General Randy George, former Army Chief of Staff, fired
- General Chris Donahue, former commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, stepped down
- General David Hodne, former head of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, fired
- Major General William Green, former Army chief of chaplains, fired
- Navy Secretary John Phelan, departed immediately
Driscoll’s resignation comes amid ongoing military actions in Iran, a critical moment for the Trump administration. The reshaping of the Army’s leadership is expected to further question Hegseth’s oversight.
Public sentiment on the U.S. military actions is increasingly negative. University of Massachusetts Amherst polling shows 68 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war in Iran. Additionally, 54 percent disapprove of military operations there. The survey covered 1,000 respondents in late August 2026. A YouGov/Economist poll echoes these findings, indicating broad disapproval of the war.