Hegseth shakes up Pentagon leadership
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The gist
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Senator Tillis urges Trump to fire Hegseth amid Pentagon leadership void.
Background
The Pentagon has seen a significant turnover of senior officials under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who took office in the second Trump administration. More than a dozen senior military officials have left, including the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff. Driscoll's resignation adds to the list, following Navy Secretary John Phelan's firing in April and other high-profile departures. The shake-up has drawn criticism from some Republican senators, who view Hegseth as a political liability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
How it unfolded
- Feb 2025Hegseth removed Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Vice Chief Gen. James Slife.
- Apr 2026Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired by Hegseth.
- Aug 31, 2026Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Trump after repeated clashes with Hegseth.
- Sep 3, 2026Sen. Thom Tillis called on Trump to remove Hegseth, while Trump defended Hegseth as 'doing a fantastic job.'
Who’s saying what
- Official
- President Trump said Hegseth is 'doing a fantastic job,' and Pentagon officials portray his tenure as opening a new chapter for the department.
- Senator
- Sen. Thom Tillis urged Trump to replace Hegseth, saying he is 'creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks.'
- Analysts
- A former senior GOP Armed Services staffer said many GOP lawmakers view Hegseth as a political liability but are leery about confronting Trump.
Still unverified
The specific reasons for the strained relationship between Driscoll and Hegseth have not been publicly detailed; reports of clashes are based on anonymous sources.