Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump, ending months of public tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the departure to CBS News on Monday, noting Driscoll’s role in advancing military readiness and lethality.

Driscoll, the civilian leader of the U.S. Army, is expected to leave the Pentagon in the coming days. His exit follows disagreements over service direction and the removal of senior officers. This marks a reversal from April, when Driscoll stated he had no plans to resign despite growing public friction with Hegseth.

Leadership Vacuum at the Army

The resignation leaves the Army without a Senate-confirmed civilian or military leader. Gen. Christopher LaNeVe currently serves as acting chief of staff after Hegseth fired predecessor Gen. Randy George. Army Undersecretary Mike Obadal will become the highest-ranking civilian in the service upon Driscoll’s departure.

Driscoll had developed a close working relationship with George on Army modernization, including new battlefield technology adoption. He raised concerns with the Trump administration about Hegseth’s removal of generals involved in these transformation efforts before submitting his resignation.

Broader Pentagon Restructuring

Driscoll’s exit aligns with Hegseth’s ongoing overhaul of senior military leadership. Hegseth has pushed to reduce the number of generals and admirals by 10% overall and cut four-star positions by 20%. The shake-up extends beyond the Army; Navy Secretary John Phelan departed in April shortly after George’s firing.

Hegseth is reportedly considering Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell as a possible successor to Driscoll. Parnell was described as being on Hegseth’s short list as Driscoll’s departure approached.

Modernization and Private Investment

During his tenure, Driscoll focused on military modernization and private sector engagement. Private companies pledged more than $25 billion toward data centers, critical-mineral refineries, and dining facilities on Army bases. Driscoll and Army Deputy Undersecretary Dave Fitzgerald worked to bring private investment into military infrastructure.

Fitzgerald, who served in uniform with Driscoll, is also expected to leave his position later this week. LaNeVe’s potential path to the permanent chief of staff post faces resistance from some Republicans concerned about Hegseth’s preference for him.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll plans to step down by the end of 2026, following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His departure would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader.

The Wall Street Journal reported the development on Friday, citing sources. In April, Driscoll denied any plans to resign, stating he remained focused on Army readiness. His family relocated to North Carolina this summer, and he moved into a smaller on-base apartment.

Leadership Vacuum Looms

Driscoll’s potential exit follows significant leadership changes within the Pentagon. In April, Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, a trusted ally of Driscoll, without explanation. Gen. Christopher LaNeVe is currently serving as acting chief of staff. President Donald Trump has not named a successor for Driscoll.

Congressional unease over these changes is growing. In June, the House Armed Services Committee advanced a bipartisan measure requiring the Pentagon to justify senior officer firings. This reflects scrutiny of Hegseth’s roughly two dozen leadership shake-ups this year.

Hegseth’s consolidation of authority extends beyond the Army. He removed Navy Secretary John Phelan in April after Phelan complained to Congress about being sidelined on shipbuilding decisions.

Modernization Push

During his tenure, Driscoll partnered with Gen. George to push battlefield technology adoption, drawing lessons from Ukraine. Key initiatives included military modernization, drone integration, and electronic warfare.

Private firms pledged more than $25 billion for data centers, mineral refineries, and dining facilities on Army bases under his leadership. Last month, Trump praised Driscoll at a Pennsylvania defense conference.

What the Numbers Show

The $25 billion in private pledges represents a significant capital injection into Army infrastructure during a period of intense leadership turnover. This financial commitment contrasts with the operational instability caused by the firing of key allies like Gen. George and the impending departure of the Army Secretary.