New York, September 1: U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position. According to media reports, this decision stems from ongoing disputes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sources indicate that Driscoll submitted his resignation following a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday. However, the White House has yet to officially confirm this resignation.
It has been reported that significant disagreements arose between Driscoll and Hegseth regarding issues such as army modernization, the removal of several senior officials, and the suspension of promotions for other officers.
Driscoll is the second senior civilian military official to resign during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Earlier, Navy Secretary John Fellen was removed from his position in April.
In the U.S. military structure, separate secretaries oversee the Navy, Army, and Air Force, all operating under the Defense Secretary.
The leadership crisis in the U.S. Army has intensified amid nearly six months of escalating tensions with Iran. The Army is currently functioning without both a civilian chief and a permanent military leader, as Army Chief General Randy George was previously removed from his role.
Additionally, Army Deputy Chief General James Mingus was also dismissed last October. His successor, General Christopher LaNeve, has yet to receive Senate approval, which is necessary for such senior military positions.
Like President Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth had previously stated that the conflict with Iran would conclude within weeks. However, the struggle continues, and the U.S. military remains deeply engaged.
Hegseth has also dismissed three other generals who could have potentially succeeded him, further exacerbating the leadership vacuum.
While U.S. troops are not directly engaged in ground combat against Iran, they play a crucial role in defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks in the Gulf region, which have resulted in the deaths of some American soldiers.
Dan Driscoll served in the Iraq War as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was viewed as a potential successor to Defense Secretary Hegseth, especially as Hegseth has failed to deliver on promises of a swift victory.
Driscoll studied at Yale Law School, where he met current Vice President J.D. Vance. The two were classmates and have maintained a close relationship.
Reports suggest that during Hegseth’s tenure, there were specific actions taken against African-American officials, including General C.Q. Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as female officers.
However, Hegseth also targeted other senior officials whom he perceived as political adversaries, including General Christopher Donahue, who played a significant role in aiding Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It is reported that Driscoll opposed several dismissals and promotion suspensions, which became a major point of contention between him and Hegseth. Reports indicate that he even raised these concerns directly with President Trump.
Media speculation suggests that Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who is considered close to Hegseth and has limited media access to the military, may replace Driscoll.
Reports indicate that Driscoll’s resignation has been anticipated for some time and is seen as a culmination of long-standing internal disputes.
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