US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after serving in the role for about 18 months, amid reported tensions with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll’s departure was confirmed by CBS, the BBC’s US media partner, which reported that his resignation followed months of friction between the two senior officials. The BBC said it has contacted the White House, Pentagon and Army for comment.
At 41, Driscoll was the youngest person to serve as Army secretary and became known as President Donald Trump’s “drone guy” because of his strong support for emerging technologies on the battlefield.
The White House praised his performance, describing Driscoll as “highly effective” in advancing Trump’s agenda “to Make America Strong Again” and for providing “outstanding leadership” during military operations.
Driscoll’s resignation comes amid a wider series of high-profile departures within the US military leadership.
Navy Secretary John Phelan abruptly resigned in April, while other senior figures who have recently left their positions include Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Army Gen David Hodne and Maj Gen William Green.
Since taking charge at the Pentagon, Hegseth has removed more than a dozen senior military officers, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force’s vice-chief of staff.
The exact details of the reported disagreement between Driscoll and Hegseth remain unclear. However, CBS reported that Driscoll was a close friend of Randy George, who was reportedly asked by Hegseth to resign.
The Army secretary serves as the highest-ranking civilian official in the US Army and oversees active-duty forces, as well as National Guard and reserve personnel.
Before becoming Army secretary, Driscoll served in the US Army as an officer beginning in 2007. He later commanded a cavalry platoon and was deployed to Iraq for several months in 2009.
His interest in military technology earned him the nickname Trump’s “drone guy”, reflecting his efforts to promote the use of emerging battlefield technologies.
Driscoll also became involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war last year. He travelled internationally and held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of efforts to explore an end to the conflict.Driscoll’s Role In Trump Administration
Beyond his Army responsibilities, Driscoll was regarded as a close ally and friend of Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met while both were at Yale Law School.
During his tenure, he also played a prominent role in the Trump administration’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to several US cities.
Driscoll additionally served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, adding another significant responsibility to his time in government.
His resignation now adds to the growing list of senior military and defence officials who have departed since the Trump administration took office, further drawing attention to changes in leadership across the Pentagon.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
