Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Steps Down as Trump Administration Faces Military Leadership Shakeup

WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after approximately 18 months in office, the White House said, marking the latest departure of a senior military official during President Donald Trump’s administration.

Driscoll’s resignation followed a conversation with President Trump about the current state of the Army, according to a U.S. Army official familiar with the matter. No official reason for his departure was immediately provided.

The move comes amid reported tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and follows a series of changes among the senior leadership of the U.S. military. Driscoll, who is a close associate of Vice President JD Vance, had also played a prominent role in diplomatic efforts related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The White House praised Driscoll’s service, while his departure is expected to add to concerns over stability and continuity within the Pentagon’s senior leadership.

The developments came as the Trump administration also secured a significant legal victory after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed construction to continue on a proposed $400 million ballroom at the White House. The court’s decision came in a 5-4 ruling while legal challenges to the project continue.

Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by the court’s three liberal justices, dissented, arguing that the project was likely unlawful because it had not received congressional approval. The majority questioned whether the National Trust for Historic Preservation had sufficient legal standing to challenge the construction.

The White House ballroom project and Driscoll’s departure are among several developments drawing renewed attention to the Trump administration’s exercise of executive authority and changes within key government institutions.