Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is set to leave the Pentagon within days, departing the Trump administration following a prolonged internal power struggle with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll spoke directly with President Trump about the “current state” of the Army before submitting his resignation, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by Congress.net.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly issued a statement praising Driscoll’s tenure, saying he “has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army.”
Kelly credited Driscoll with “providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and more.”
Kelly closed her statement by noting that “the United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.”
During his time leading the Army, Driscoll pushed aggressively to modernize equipment and worked to incorporate lessons from the Ukrainian military on using commercial technology in combat.
Driscoll also made improving living conditions for enlisted service members a central priority of his leadership agenda at the Department of the Army.
Tensions between Driscoll and Hegseth escalated sharply after President Trump selected Driscoll to lead negotiations with Ukrainian officials aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Hegseth has fired more than two dozen senior military officers since assuming control of the Pentagon, including several officers who had close ties to Driscoll.
Driscoll had reportedly been open to leaving around Labor Day, but the White House pushed for him to remain in the role at least through the November midterms.
Hegseth is now reportedly considering senior advisor and Pentagon spokesperson Parnell to succeed Driscoll as Army Secretary, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Parnell has served as the Pentagon’s top spokesperson since February of last year and currently chairs the Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel.
A decorated veteran, Parnell was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for his service during the Afghanistan War before transitioning into politics.
Parnell ran for Congress twice and was endorsed by President Trump during a Senate bid in Pennsylvania, but withdrew from the race in November 2021 following a court defeat over custody of his three children.
