Army Secretary Driscoll Resigns Amid Pentagon Tensions

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Hegseth has indicated that Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell is his top choice to replace him. The departure, confirmed on September 1, 2026, marks the latest in a series of high-level changes at the Pentagon and comes amid ongoing turmoil in the military's senior ranks. Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump after a meeting last week in which he expressed concerns about Hegseth's management of the Army, according to reports. The friction centered on Hegseth's ouster of numerous senior Army officers, including the April firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, a close Driscoll ally. Sources indicated that Driscoll believed these actions were hindering the Army's transformation and readiness. A White House spokesperson stated that Driscoll had been "highly effective" in advancing the administration's agenda, including work on military readiness and negotiations related to the Russia-Ukraine war. With Driscoll's exit, Hegseth has privately told associates that Sean Parnell would be his preferred successor, according to multiple senior officials.