US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll poised to exit amid Pentagon tensions

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down by the end of the year, or potentially sooner, after months of tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, people familiar with the discussions told The Wall Street Journal.

Driscoll’s departure would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed secretary. Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April without providing an explanation, and President Donald Trump has yet to nominate a successor. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s vice chief of staff and a former senior military aide to Hegseth, is serving as acting Army chief of staff.

The expected departure comes as Driscoll and his family have already changed their living arrangements. According to people familiar with the matter, the family moved out this summer of the large residence designated for the Army secretary at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, a military installation adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery where several senior defence officials reside. His family relocated to North Carolina, while Driscoll moved into a smaller apartment on the base.

A longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll came under scrutiny from Hegseth early in the Trump administration after he offered to arrange a visit for Vance and Trump to meet soldiers and discuss reforms to the Army, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

During his 18 months as Army secretary, Driscoll developed a close working relationship with George. The two advocated for greater adoption of emerging technology, arguing that it would shape the future of warfare.

Driscoll and George also travelled to Ukraine with Gen. Chris Donahue, the Army’s former senior commander in Europe, allowing Driscoll to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss peace negotiations.

Driscoll urged the Army to emulate aspects of the Ukrainian military’s approach, particularly its use of commercial technology on the battlefield. During his tenure, private companies pledged more than $25 billion toward the construction of data centers, critical-mineral refineries and dining facilities on Army bases across the United States.

Hegseth dismissed George in April and appointed LaNeve to serve in his place.

The decision drew criticism from Republican lawmakers in Congress, while George received expressions of support.

“I, too, love Gen. George,” Driscoll told lawmakers during a hearing when asked about the general’s abrupt dismissal, describing him as “an amazing, transformation leader.”

Driscoll, a former Army Ranger, also received praise from Trump at a defense conference in Pennsylvania last month.

“With that beautiful smile, but he’s actually a killer. Look at that beautiful, nice, face. Everything’s so happy. He’s a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best guys, actually,” Trump said.

By Tamilla Hasanova