US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll May Step Down By End Of 2026: Report

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to leave his post by the end of 2026, or possibly earlier, amid months of reported tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to people familiar with the discussions cited by The Wall Street Journal. A separate report by The Hill said Driscoll is also considering leaving around the end of the year.

Driscoll’s Exit Could Leave Army Without Permanent Secretary

One source told The Hill that Driscoll had previously indicated that an Army secretary in the Trump administration was expected to serve for about 23 to 24 months. Driscoll’s spokesperson and Pentagon officials declined to comment on the reports.

If Driscoll leaves, the Army would be without a Senate-confirmed secretary. The service also currently lacks a Senate-confirmed chief of staff after Hegseth removed Gen Randy George from the post in April without publicly giving a reason.

Gen Christopher LaNeve, the Army vice chief of staff and a former senior military aide to Hegseth, is serving as acting chief of staff. His confirmation has reportedly faced objections from lawmakers in both parties.

Tensions With Hegseth

Driscoll, a longtime friend and ally of Vice President JD Vance, has been involved in a reported dispute with Hegseth over influence within the Pentagon.

According to The Wall Street Journal, tensions emerged early in the Trump administration after Driscoll offered to organise a visit by Trump and Vance with soldiers to discuss Army reforms. The relationship reportedly became more strained after Trump selected Driscoll to negotiate with Ukrainian officials as part of efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Driscoll had developed a close working relationship with George, and the two pushed the Army’s transformation efforts, including the integration of drones and artificial intelligence into military formations.

Driscoll’s Army Transformation Agenda

A former Army Ranger and venture capitalist, Driscoll has focused on modernising equipment, improving living conditions for soldiers and adopting lessons from Ukraine on the use of commercial technology in warfare.

During his tenure, private companies pledged more than $25 billion towards projects including data centres, critical mineral refineries and dining facilities on Army bases across the US.

Driscoll also travelled to Ukraine with George and Gen Chris Donahue, then the Army’s top general in Europe, to discuss peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

His partnership with George ended after Hegseth removed the Army chief in April. During a congressional hearing, Driscoll described George as an “amazing, transformation leader” when questioned about his dismissal.

Who Is Dan Driscoll?

Trump nominated Driscoll for Army secretary after describing him as a former soldier, investor and political adviser. The Senate confirmed him on February 25, 2025, by a 66-28 vote.

Driscoll served as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom before earning a law degree from Yale Law School. He later worked in venture capital and private equity and served as a senior adviser to Vice President JD Vance.

Trump praised Driscoll at a defence conference in Pennsylvania last month, calling him a “killer” while highlighting his appearance and demeanour.