US army secretary resigns after months of tension
Dan Driscoll, the youngest-ever army secretary, was about 18 months into his post.
The US Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll, has stepped down from his position after approximately 18 months, following a period of considerable strain.
His resignation was corroborated by CBS, the BBC's media associate in the US, which indicated that his departure was the culmination of months of disagreement between Driscoll and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll, at 41, was the youngest individual to ever hold the army secretary role and was frequently dubbed President Donald Trump's "drone guy."
In a statement provided to CBS, the White House commended Driscoll for being "highly effective" in advancing Trump's "Make America Strong Again" agenda and for providing "outstanding leadership" during military operations.
The BBC has reached out to the White House, the Pentagon, and the Army for their comments.
Driscoll's resignation adds him to a list of prominent military leaders who have recently left their posts. This includes Navy Secretary John Phelan, who resigned unexpectedly in April, as well as Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Army Gen David Hodne, and Maj Gen William Green.
Since assuming his role at the Pentagon, Hegseth has dismissed over a dozen senior military officers, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force's vice-chief of staff.
While the specifics of the internal discord between Driscoll and Hegseth remain undisclosed, CBS points out that Driscoll shares a close friendship with George, who reportedly was asked by Hegseth to resign.
The army secretary position is the highest civilian leadership role within the US Army, overseeing active duty personnel, along with the National Guard and reserve forces.
Driscoll's prior service in the Army included being an officer in 2007, leading a cavalry platoon, and a multi-month deployment to Iraq in 2009.
During his tenure as army secretary, Driscoll earned the moniker "Trump's drone guy" due to his strong advocacy for emerging battlefield technologies.
Last year, he played a significant role in discussions aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, undertaking international travel and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He is also a close associate and friend of Vice-President JD Vance, whom he met while attending Yale Law School.
As the head of the US Army, Driscoll was instrumental in Trump's deployment of the National Guard to various US cities.
Additionally, he temporarily assumed the role of acting director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.