SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll Submits Resignation Amid Tensions With Defense Secretary Hegseth

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Trump, according to multiple reports. Driscoll, who took office at age 38 and became the youngest-ever Army secretary, had served approximately 18 months in the role. His departure is expected to take effect in the coming days, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Daniel Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Trump, with a senior U.S. official confirming the move to Fox News. As of the time of initial reporting, the resignation remained pending and had not yet been formally accepted by the White House.

A source familiar with the matter told Fox News that Driscoll raised concerns with the administration about Army transformation and readiness, specifically alleging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had blocked those efforts by removing generals responsible for them. Tensions reportedly intensified as Hegseth dismissed several senior Army leaders, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who had served 42 years and received the Purple Heart. Driscoll publicly expressed respect for George at an April 16 House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, describing driving directly to George's home after learning of the dismissal.

NPR reported that the ongoing turmoil at the Pentagon under Hegseth adds significance to the resignation, particularly given the active U.S. military involvement in the war with Iran, which the outlet described as continuing with no end in sight. NPR noted that the Army secretary manages the Army's budget and long-term planning but is not part of the military chain of command and does not directly command troops in the Middle East.