ARMY SECRETARY DAN DRISCOLL RESIGNS AFTER TENSIONS WITH HEGSETH AND WARNINGS OVER MILITARY FIRINGS. (PHOTO).

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after tensions with Hegseth and warnings over military firings

 Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation came after growing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and repeated concerns raised with the White House over Hegseth's removal of senior military officers.

Driscoll also warned administration officials about efforts to prevent some military leaders from advancing to the highest ranks even after completing the vetting process. His departure came during one of the Army's busiest periods since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, creating a leadership gap as the service faces an expanding list of demands.

Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump when he submitted his resignation and raised concerns about Hegseth's removal of experienced Army leaders, often without public explanations. Driscoll argued that the dismissals were weakening the force and reducing the number of officers available for future senior leadership positions.

More than two dozen senior U.S. military officers have been fired or sidelined during Hegseth's tenure without publicly disclosed reasons.

The White House has maintained that Trump has complete confidence in Hegseth and praised his leadership of the Pentagon. The Defense Department has also said Hegseth remains in regular communication with Trump and keeps the White House informed.

Driscoll entered the Pentagon as an unconventional choice for Army secretary. He had limited national security experience, with a background that included venture capital and Republican politics.

He served in the Army from 2007 to 2010 as a cavalry officer with the 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Iraq in 2009. He left the military as a first lieutenant. In 2020, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in North Carolina's 11th District, finishing sixth in the Republican primary. He later worked with the Trump-Vance transition team and the Republican National Committee.

Despite his unconventional background, Driscoll quickly gained support among national security officials and lawmakers from both parties. He was viewed as less confrontational than Hegseth and became an advocate for modernizing the Army, including updating military doctrine and expanding the use of drones, robots, and other emerging technologies.

Some defense officials viewed Driscoll as a buffer between Hegseth and the Army. He reportedly pushed back against efforts to remove senior officers, including through contacts with the White House, although those efforts did not stop the broader personnel changes.

Driscoll also had a longstanding relationship with Vice President JD Vance, whom he met while they were both students at Yale Law School. That connection was considered an important factor in his ability to remain in his position despite tensions with Hegseth.

His bipartisan reputation was further strengthened by his work with Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, on right-to-repair initiatives. The effort sought to reduce Pentagon and defense industry restrictions that can prevent military personnel from repairing their own equipment and force the government to rely on contractors for repairs and replacement parts.

Turnover has historically been common among Army secretaries, with many serving two years or less or spending periods in an acting capacity. John McHugh was a notable exception, serving from 2009 to 2015 during the Obama administration.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has emerged as a potential successor to Driscoll. Parnell, an Army veteran, has reportedly expressed interest in the position.

A Parnell nomination could face scrutiny during the Senate confirmation process. He withdrew from a Pennsylvania Senate campaign in 2021 following allegations of abuse made by his estranged wife during a contentious custody dispute. Parnell denied the allegations.

Driscoll's resignation is the latest high-profile departure from the Defense Department since Hegseth became secretary. Former Navy Secretary John Phelan was forced out in April, while Gen. Randy George, the Army's top officer at the time, also left his position.

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has separately raised concerns about senior military leaders remaining largely silent about actions taken by the Trump administration involving the armed forces. Kendall specifically criticized Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, arguing that military leaders should not distance themselves from controversial decisions by characterizing them solely as policy choices.

Caine's office said he remains focused on his role as the president's principal military adviser, providing military advice, options and assessments of potential risks and consequences.