Army Secretary Dan Driscoll reportedly plans to step down by the end of 2026, capping months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll’s exit would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader.
Leadership Vacuum Looms
The development was reported by the Wall Street Journal on Friday, citing sources.
In April, Driscoll had denied having any plans to resign or leave his position. He said he remained “laser-focused” on Army readiness.
Driscoll’s departure would not be the first one this year. In April, Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, a trusted ally of Driscoll, without explanation. George, in his farewell note, stressed the need for “leaders of character.”
President Donald Trump hasn’t named a successor yet. Gen. Christopher LaNeVe, Hegseth’s former senior military aide, is serving as acting chief of staff.
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In June, the House Armed Services Committee advanced a bipartisan measure requiring the Pentagon to justify senior officer firings, reflecting growing congressional unease over Hegseth’s roughly two dozen leadership shake-ups.
Hegseth’s consolidation of Pentagon authority extends beyond the Army. He removed Navy Secretary John Phelan in April after Phelan complained to Congress about being sidelined on shipbuilding decisions.
According to the Wall Street Journal report, Driscoll’s family relocated to North Carolina this summer and he moved into a smaller on-base apartment.
Pentagon did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Modernization Push
A close ally of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll partnered with George to push battlefield technology adoption, drawing on lessons from Ukraine. He continuously worked on military modernization, drone integration and electronic warfare.
Under his tenure, private firms pledged more than $25 billion for data centers, mineral refineries and dining facilities on Army bases, the report said.
Last month, Trump praised Driscoll at a Pennsylvania defense conference, calling him “a killer” behind a friendly smile.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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