ABC News Top Stories reports that Dan Driscoll’s resignation has created a leadership gap for the Army as the service faces an expanding set of demands. Driscoll resigned early last week after a difficult relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to sources familiar with the matter. The sources said Driscoll repeatedly raised concerns with the White House, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, about Hegseth’s removal of senior military officers and efforts to prevent some thoroughly vetted officers from advancing to the highest ranks.
Driscoll also discussed the situation with President Donald Trump when he submitted his resignation, according to two sources familiar with that conversation. One source said Driscoll told Trump that the removals were weakening the Army’s experienced leadership and reducing the number of officers available for future senior commands. The source said Trump appeared surprised by the scale of the issue.
The White House said Anna Kelly that The President has complete trust in Secretary Hegseth and pointed to results from recent military operations, including the war in Iran. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth communicates with the president daily and keeps the White House informed. A senior defense official described the departure as a major loss for the Army and said Driscoll had acted as a buffer between Hegseth and the service, including by challenging the removal of senior officers through the White House.
Driscoll entered the Army secretary position as an unconventional choice, with a background largely in venture capital and Republican politics and no national security experience. He had served as a cavalry officer, deployed to Iraq, and later gained bipartisan support on Capitol Hill while presenting himself as an advocate for Army modernization. That modernization work included updating doctrine and bringing robots, drones and other emerging technologies into the force, while his work with Sen. Elizabeth Warren on right-to-repair reforms also attracted support.
Parnell is viewed by multiple U.S. officials as a possible replacement for Driscoll, but his confirmation could be difficult because of allegations made by his estranged wife during a child custody dispute, which he has denied. Driscoll’s exit follows other senior departures during Hegseth’s tenure, including the removal of Navy Secretary John Phelan and Gen. Randy George, who had been the Army’s top officer and Driscoll’s senior adviser. The episode adds to scrutiny of Hegseth’s handling of senior military leadership while the White House and Pentagon maintain their public support for him.