US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation after about 18 months in the role, a departure confirmed by CBS, a BBC US media partner. The resignation reportedly follows months of conflict between Driscoll and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll, 41, was the youngest-ever army secretary and had been referred to as President Donald Trump's "drone guy" due to his embrace of emerging battlefield technologies. The White House, in a statement to CBS, described Driscoll as "highly effective" in advancing Trump's agenda and providing "outstanding leadership" during military operations.
His resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile military departures, including Navy Secretary John Phelan in April, and Army Chief of Staff Randy George. Defence Secretary Hegseth has reportedly fired more than a dozen senior military officers since entering the Pentagon.
The specific details of the friction between Driscoll and Hegseth are unclear, though CBS noted Driscoll's friendship with George, who was reportedly asked by Hegseth to resign. As army secretary, Driscoll was the top civilian leader of the US Army, directing active duty troops, the National Guard, and reserve soldiers. He also took a leading role in talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war last year.