U.S. Secretary of Army Daniel Driscoll has resigned from his post after about 18 months in office, according to multiple officials cited by U.S. media. His resignation comes just months ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
At 40, Driscoll became the youngest person to serve as the Secretary of Army. President Donald Trump had previously nicknamed him “drone guy” because of his focus on modernizing the U.S. military.
An Iraq War veteran, Driscoll also became a prominent figure in U.S. efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine last year. His departure now marks a major change in the Pentagon leadership as the Trump administration continues to reshape the U.S. military.
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The Wall Street Journal was the first to report Driscoll’s resignation. An administration official cited by The New York Times said Driscoll personally handed his resignation to Trump during a meeting with the president. The two reportedly discussed the current condition of the U.S. Army.
Speculation about Driscoll’s future had been circulating for weeks. His relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reportedly become increasingly strained, although the administration has not publicly provided a detailed explanation of the disagreement.
The New York Times reported that the dispute was partly linked to a promotions list involving four officers. According to the report, Hegseth sought to remove two Black male officers and two women from the list, but Driscoll declined to carry out the request.
Hegseth has overseen a significant shake-up of the Pentagon’s senior leadership since taking office. More than a dozen senior military officials have left their positions, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force’s vice chief of staff.
Other recent high-profile departures include Navy Secretary John Phelan, who unexpectedly left his post in April, Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Maj. Gen. William Green and Army Gen. David Hodne.
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Despite Driscoll’s resignation, the White House praised his tenure and highlighted his role in advancing Trump’s military agenda.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly described Driscoll as “highly effective in advancing” Trump’s “Make America Strong Again” agenda at the Department of the Army. She credited him with providing leadership during major military operations, strengthening the Army’s focus on readiness and lethality, and contributing to diplomatic efforts involving Russia and Ukraine.
Kelly also said the U.S. Army is now stronger as a result of Driscoll’s work with Trump and Hegseth.