Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has insisted he is not going anywhere, despite a series of reported clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his being tipped as the latter’s potential successor.
President Donald Trump has shown an increased willingness to shake up his cabinet over the last month, firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, prompting speculation that Hegseth could be next if the Iran war is not resolved satisfactorily.
The Pentagon chief’s surprise decision to force out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. last week was motivated by “paranoia” that he could be replaced by Driscoll, The New York Post reported Friday.
But Driscoll has now told The Washington Post he expects to remain in his current role, saying: “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. I have no plans to depart or resign as the secretary of the Army.”
Driscoll, a veteran and close friend of Vice President JD Vance since their Yale Law School days, was also backed by the White House.
Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump had “effectively restored a focus on readiness and lethality across our military with the help of leaders like Secretary Driscoll.
“The extraordinary talent of the United States Army is on full display as our warfighters meet or exceed all of their benchmarks under Operation Epic Fury and Iran’s military capabilities diminish more every day.”
When speculation about the rift between Hegseth and Driscoll first emerged, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The Independent: “Secretary Hegseth maintains excellent working relationships with the secretaries of every military service branch, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.”
But other officials within the Department of Defense have disputed that characterization, saying that Hegseth has been wary of Driscoll ever since he was floated as his possible successor when the Signalgate scandal erupted last March and the secretary appeared to be on thin ice.
Officials quoted by the Post said Driscoll had clashed with Hegseth over previous attempts to remove George – whom the former admired as a reformer – and had reached out to Vance for support as he sought to bolster his own position. It is not known whether the VP stepped in to speak up for Driscoll.
The general’s removal finally came after The New York Times reported that Hegseth had blocked the promotion of four Army officers, including two Black people and two women, a matter over which Driscoll and George reportedly sparred with the secretary.
Should Driscoll ultimately join George on the sidelines or be nominated by Trump to succeed Hegseth – contrary to his latest reassurances – Parnell has been tipped as his successor as Army secretary.
A senior department official told The Independent last week: “It wouldn’t be out of line to speculate that Sean would be considered as a successor as he is one of the highest profile Army veterans serving at the top of department right now, but both men are focused on serving the president and doing the job they have now.”
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