By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-02 22:15:06 | Updated at 2026-09-02 23:20:44
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U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed that Sept. 2 will be his last full day serving in that role but gave no reason for the departure.
“As a third-generation Army veteran, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the Secretary of the Army under President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth. Tomorrow is my last full day in the role,” Driscoll wrote in an X statement on Sept. 1.
The White House also announced Driscoll’s resignation on Aug. 31 without providing a reason. His departure comes after other top Army officials were either dismissed or left the service earlier this year.
“Our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families are our Nation’s very best, and they have inspired me every day. I am sincerely thankful for their service and sacrifice,” Driscoll said on Tuesday.
The outgoing Army secretary said he had the opportunity to work with Army personnel to modernize and accelerate how the military branch mans, equips, and trains its service members over the last 18 months.
“We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth,” he said. “I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country.”
The Epoch Times reached out to the Pentagon and the Army for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Driscoll replaced Army Secretary Christine Wormuth in February 2025 as the 26th secretary of the Army.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Driscoll was commissioned as an armor officer in 2007. During his military career, he served as a cavalry scout platoon leader and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009.
Driscoll was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Ranger Tab for his service. Before serving as Army secretary, Driscoll attended Yale Law School and held leadership positions in business operations, investment banking, and private equity.
Among other top Army leaders who left the administration this year was Gen. Randy George, the Army’s former chief of staff. George was dismissed in April, when Secretary of War Pete Hegseth asked him to step down and take immediate retirement. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has since served as acting chief of staff.
Gen. Christopher Donahue relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in June.
Response From US Lawmakers
Following Driscoll’s announcement, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement thanking him for his service.
“His departure leaves the Army without its top civilian and uniformed leaders, and a military service whose leadership ranks have been gutted by Secretary Hegseth,” he said.
Reed said Hegseth had fired or blocked promotions for dozens of senior officers without explanation.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said in a Sept. 2 social media post that he had “never witnessed more inept management” of the U.S. military. He claimed Hegseth was “intimidated by competence” and focused on “culture wars” instead of national defense and the well-being of the military.
“I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” Tillis said.
The White House maintained on Wednesday that the president continues to have “complete trust” in Hegseth.
“After Joe Biden’s Pentagon prioritized DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and woke ideology, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth quickly reversed course and restored a Department of War that is focused on readiness, lethality, and supporting our warfighters,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
“The President has complete trust in Secretary Hegseth, who is doing an incredible job leading the Pentagon,” she said. “The results of Operations Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve, Southern Spear, and Epic Fury speak for themselves.”
