WASHINGTON, D.C. — US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down by the end of the year. His potential departure follows months of tension with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The strain between the two officials emerged after Hegseth rejected Driscoll's offer to organize a visit by Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump to meet soldiers and discuss military reform. The conflict intensified in April when Hegseth fired General Randy George as Army chief of staff without explanation. Hegseth asked George to step down and take early retirement, removing him alongside two other generals in April 2026 while citing concerns about loyalty and alignment with his vision for the military.

George was a close friend of Driscoll, and the two had worked closely on modernization efforts. Driscoll described George as "an amazing, transformative leader." In an outgoing email to staff, George stated that US service members deserved "courageous leaders of character." Republicans in Congress criticized the firing of George following the announcement.

President Donald Trump has not yet nominated a replacement for Army Secretary. The president also has not yet nominated a replacement for Army Chief of Staff. General Christopher LaNeve has been serving as acting Army chief of staff since George's departure. LaNeve was formerly Hegseth's senior military aide and was promoted to vice chief of staff of the Army in October 2025, just months before he was positioned to take over as acting chief of staff following George's firing.

President Donald Trump praised Driscoll last month, calling him one of "the best guys." Trump said of Driscoll: "With that beautiful smile, but he’s actually a killer. Look at that beautiful, nice face. Everything’s so happy. He’s a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best guys, actually." Despite the public praise, Driscoll and his family moved out of the house reserved for the Army Secretary at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Driscoll's family relocated to North Carolina, and he moved into a smaller apartment on base. Driscoll is 39 years old and was confirmed by the Senate as Army Secretary in February 2025. He is a close friend and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance. Driscoll served as an Army officer for four years, including a deployment to Iraq in 2009, before he left active duty in 2011.

He earned his law degree from Yale University and worked in private equity and venture capital after earning his law degree. George, a West Point graduate, served in multiple combat theaters including the first Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. George served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration.

Why It Matters

The expected departure of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll marks another leadership change within the Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth. The removal of General Randy George and the subsequent tensions indicate a shift in military leadership priorities, with Hegseth citing loyalty and alignment with his vision as key factors in personnel decisions. The phase-out of the Unmanned Assault Battalion, a unit created to study drone warfare lessons from Ukraine, further indicates a reversal of initiatives championed by the outgoing Army leadership.

These developments leave two critical positions vacant without nominated replacements, creating uncertainty in the Army's command structure. General Christopher LaNeve, a former aide to Hegseth, now serves as acting chief of staff, positioning him as a central figure in the current transition. The situation reflects the broader realignment of military strategy and personnel that has characterized Hegseth's tenure as Defense Secretary.

Timeline

Dan Driscoll left active duty in 2011. Dan Driscoll and General Randy George jointly rolled out the Army Transformation Initiative last year, which emphasized unmanned systems. The Unmanned Assault Battalion was formed last year by General Randy George and General Christopher Donahue. Dan Driscoll was confirmed by the Senate as Army Secretary in February 2025. In a November interview, Driscoll said he did not think he had talked to a single person who had said the military should not learn from what was occurring in Ukraine. Pete Hegseth asked General Randy George to step down and take early retirement. General Randy George sent an outgoing email to staff stating that US service members deserved "courageous leaders of character." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired General Randy George as Army chief of staff in April without explanation.

What's New

Records show that in 2025, Dan Driscoll and General Randy George traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss military cooperation and potential peace negotiations. Further details reveal that in April 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed General Randy George and two other generals, citing concerns about loyalty and alignment with his vision for the military.

Reports note that General Randy George was a close friend of Dan Driscoll.

How Sources Differ

Reports differ on the specifics of Driscoll's technology initiatives. Some sources indicate that in 2025, General Randy George and Dan Driscoll were involved in a joint initiative to integrate commercial technology into the U.S. Army, similar to what was being used by the Ukrainian military. The Wall Street Journal report stated that during his 18 months as Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll encouraged the military to use commercial technology on the battlefield similar to the Ukrainian army.

Sources also vary on Driscoll's background. Some sources state that in 2025, Dan Driscoll was appointed as Army Secretary after serving as a military lawyer and private equity professional, and he had previously worked closely with Vice President JD Vance.