US Army Secretary expected to step down by year’s end: WSJ

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down by the end of the year amid months of reported tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the discussions.

The departure, which could come sooner, would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed civilian leader at a critical time.

The United States is engaged in a war it began alongside ‘Israel’ nearly six months ago, and the service already lacks a permanent chief of staff after Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George in April without public explanation.

Gen. Christopher LaNeve, previously Hegseth’s senior military aide, is serving in an acting capacity.

Driscoll, a former Army Ranger, Yale Law classmate and close ally of Vice President JD Vance, took office in February 2025 as the youngest Army secretary in history.

He and his family moved out of the official residence at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall this summer, a move the Journal described as one indication of the planned exit.

His family relocated to North Carolina while he shifted to a smaller on-base apartment.

Spokespersons for Driscoll and the Pentagon have not commented on the latest report.

Tensions between the two officials have simmered for more than a year.

Hegseth reportedly viewed Driscoll’s influence and ties to Vance with suspicion, and sources previously described the defense secretary as harboring “paranoia” that Driscoll could replace him.

Clashes extended to personnel decisions, including promotions and the abrupt removal of George, whom Driscoll later praised as “an amazing, transformational leader.”

“I, too, loved General George,” Driscoll told lawmakers, adding that he drove straight to the general’s house upon returning from North Carolina to offer support.

In April, as speculation about his future intensified, Driscoll issued a firm denial.

“Serving under President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime, and I remain laser focused on providing America with the strongest land fighting force the world has ever seen,” he said.

“I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.” The White House at the time publicly backed both men.

President Donald Trump offered a characteristically colorful endorsement of Driscoll as recently as last month at a defense conference, describing him as someone “with that beautiful smile, but he’s actually a killer.”

“Look at that beautiful, nice face, everything so happy. He’s a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best kinds, actually,” Trump said.

Driscoll’s expected exit adds to a broader pattern of leadership turnover at the Pentagon under Trump’s second term, which has included changes among the Joint Chiefs and service leaders.