Hegseth reportedly favors Sean Parnell for Army secretary

Dan Driscoll, the youngest-ever U.S. Army secretary, submitted his resignation to President Trump on August 31, 2026, after about 18 months in the post, the White House confirmed. Multiple outlets reported that Driscoll's departure followed months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, described by some as a turf war over authority within the Pentagon. As of August 31, the White House had not yet formally accepted the resignation, according to at least one report, though subsequent coverage on September 1 characterized the resignation as finalized. Reporting in late August indicated Driscoll had been considering stepping down by the end of 2026, with sources describing ongoing discussions about his exit timeline. Driscoll is a close associate of Vice President JD Vance, and multiple outlets noted he had been well regarded by lawmakers from both parties. In submitting his resignation, Driscoll reportedly raised concerns about the direction of the Army, though the White House did not provide a specific reason for his departure. His resignation came amid broader upheaval at the Department of Defense, including previously reported leaked investigations and the ousting of other senior officials. No official successor has been named, and the precise effective date of Driscoll's departure remains unclear across reports, with some describing the resignation as pending and others as complete. The exact nature and origin of the reported friction with Hegseth has not been detailed by officials, and neither Driscoll nor Hegseth has publicly elaborated on the substance of their disagreements. It also remains unresolved whether Driscoll's exit is directly tied to a single incident or reflects a longer-term disagreement over Army policy and Pentagon structure.