Army Secretary Driscoll Refuses to Resign Amid Rift with Hegseth
by Nick R. Hamilton
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is drawing a firm line amid escalating tensions inside the Pentagon, publicly declaring he has no intention of stepping down.
Driscoll remains defiant despite reports that War Secretary Pete Hegseth is seeking to remove him.
“Serving under President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime, and I remain laser focused on providing America with the strongest land fighting force the world has ever seen,” Driscoll said.
“I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.”
White House Blocks Removal as Tensions Escalate
Driscoll’s statement follows reports that Hegseth has pushed to replace him with Sean Parnell, currently serving as his spokesperson.
However, the White House has made clear that Hegseth does not have the authority to remove Driscoll, effectively shielding the Army secretary, for now.
The standoff highlights a broader power struggle within the Pentagon, with the Trump administration signaling continued confidence in Driscoll’s leadership.
A White House statement underscored that point, noting President Donald Trump has “effectively restored a focus on readiness and lethality across our military with the help of leaders like Secretary Driscoll.”
Promotion Battles and Leadership Shakeups
The conflict between Driscoll and Hegseth has reportedly been building for over a year, largely centered on control of military promotions and leadership decisions.
One major flashpoint came with the reported forced retirement of Gen. Randy George, the Army’s Chief of Staff and a close ally of Driscoll.