Army Secretary Driscoll resigns after reported tensions with Hegseth

Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll is resigning after roughly 18 months in the job, the White House confirmed, following months of reported tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over priorities, personnel and the Army's role in ongoing conflicts.

Driscoll submitted his resignation effective in the coming days. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon detailed a specific policy dispute, but multiple people familiar with the situation said the relationship had deteriorated over the summer as the Army balanced demands from the Iran theater and other global commitments.

The resignation

Driscoll had been viewed as a relatively low-profile manager of the Army's day-to-day affairs. His departure is the highest-level civilian change at the service this year and comes as the Pentagon works through a broader leadership reshuffle.

Defense officials said an acting secretary will be named quickly. Confirmation of a permanent replacement could stretch into the post-midterm period depending on the Senate calendar.

Context of two wars

The Army is supporting operations tied to the prolonged conflict with Iran and continues to maintain force posture in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Senior officers have warned that extended large-scale operations in the Middle East risk reducing readiness for other contingencies.

Those readiness concerns formed part of the background to the reported friction between the Army secretariat and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, according to people briefed on internal discussions.

What comes next

Lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees said they expect a full briefing on the transition. Some members privately expressed concern that repeated civilian turnover at the services complicates oversight of procurement and force-structure decisions.

The White House framed the change as a routine personnel move and said it remains committed to supporting the Army's missions abroad.