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Army chief resigns Hegseth clash
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned Monday after clashing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over firings. The Army now lacks both its top civilian and uniformed leaders amid two wars.
Background
Driscoll's resignation follows months of friction with Hegseth, who has fired or forced out several senior Army officers, including Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April. The Army faces challenges from drone and missile threats in the Middle East and support to Ukraine, while also dealing with a leadership vacuum.
How it unfolded
- Feb 2025Driscoll became Army Secretary.
- Apr 2026Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George without explanation.
- Jun 2026Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander in Europe and Africa, stepped down.
- Aug 31, 2026Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Trump.
- Sep 1, 2026White House confirmed Driscoll's resignation; he is expected to leave in coming days.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly praised Driscoll for 'outstanding leadership' and advancing Trump's agenda.
- Democrats
- Sen. Jack Reed warned of 'hollowed out' leadership, saying Hegseth punishes dissent and prioritizes allegiance over competence.
Still unverified
Reports that Driscoll resisted removing women and black officers from promotion lists are unconfirmed.