US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns amid upheaval
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months in the role, the White House said on Monday, marking another senior military departure during the Trump administration. No official reason was given for his resignation, though both reports said tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been widely reported. An Army official told AP that Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump about the Army’s current state and then submitted his resignation. His departure follows other recent Army leadership changes, including the ouster of Gen. Randy George in April and the unexpected June departure of Gen. Christopher Donahue.
Key Points
- White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll’s leadership and said he had advanced President Trump’s agenda at the Department of the Army
- The White House statement credited Driscoll with supporting readiness, lethality and historic military operations, and with assisting Russia-Ukraine negotiations
- AP reported an Army official said Driscoll discussed the Army’s condition with Trump before formally submitting his resignation on Monday
- Driscoll, described as a friend of Vice President JD Vance, left amid reported friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- His exit came after setbacks to allies and priorities, including Randy George’s removal and rollback of a drone programme Driscoll had championed.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers tracking US security policy, the resignation adds to signs of instability in the Army’s top civilian and uniformed leadership. Continued turnover could affect how consistently Washington pursues military modernisation and overseas operations, issues that shape the wider strategic environment watched closely in Asia.