Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) publicly criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of inept management and calling for his firing following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
Driscoll announced on social media that his last full day in office would be Wednesday, though he provided no explanation for his departure after serving 18 months as the Army’s civilian leader. His resignation follows reports of tensions with Hegseth, including the ousting of several high-ranking Army officers under the Defense Secretary’s tenure.
In a post on X, Tillis stated that Driscoll was ‘the right man at the right moment to lead our Soldiers and Army civilians’, and criticized Hegseth for creating a ‘leadership void’ at the top of the military ranks. Tillis also referenced the removal of Gen. Randy George under Hegseth’s leadership, framing the departures as part of a broader pattern of leadership turnover.
Driscoll, who has close ties to Vice President JD Vance and maintains bipartisan relationships in Congress, did not cite specific reasons for his resignation in his public statement. He described his service as ‘the honor of a lifetime’ and praised the Army’s soldiers, their families, and civilian workforce for their contributions.
Hegseth has faced scrutiny in recent months for blocking promotions of at least six Army officers to two-star general rank, according to reports. This follows prior instances where he intervened to prevent promotions, including blocking four officers in August and four others earlier this year. An analysis by The New York Times found that Hegseth has fired or blocked promotions for more than 80 generals and admirals, representing roughly 10% of the military’s top officers.
Driscoll’s resignation comes after a reported conversation with President Donald Trump regarding the current state of the Army, though no details of their discussion have been made public. The White House confirmed his departure on Monday, and his departure marks another high-profile exit amid ongoing leadership changes within the Pentagon.