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U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down by year's end, possibly sooner, amid months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
His departure would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader.
Hegseth removed Gen. Randy George as Army chief of staff in April without explanation, and U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to name a successor.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army vice chief and former senior military aide to Hegseth, is serving as acting Army chief of staff.
Driscoll and his family moved out earlier this summer from the family house reserved for the Army secretary at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, a military post adjacent to Arlington Cemetery where several top defense officials live. His family relocated to North Carolina over the summer, and Driscoll moved into a smaller apartment on base.
A longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll drew scorn from Hegseth in the early days of the Trump administration after offering to organize a visit by Vance and Trump to meet soldiers and discuss reforming the Army, the Journal previously reported.
During his 18 months as Army secretary, Driscoll formed a close partnership with George. Together, the two pushed the Army to adopt new technology, viewing it as central to the future of warfare.
They also traveled to Ukraine together with Gen. Chris Donahue, the Army's former top general in Europe, so Driscoll could discuss peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Driscoll encouraged the Army to emulate the Ukrainian military's use of commercial technology on the battlefield. During his tenure, private companies pledged more than $25 billion for data centers, critical-mineral refineries and dining facilities on Army bases nationwide, according to the report.
Hegseth fired George in April and installed LaNeve in his place, a move that drew criticism from congressional Republicans and praise for George.
"I, too, love Gen. George," Driscoll told lawmakers at a hearing when asked about the general's sudden dismissal, calling him "an amazing, transformation leader."
Driscoll received praise from Trump at a defense conference in Pennsylvania last month.
"With that beautiful smile, but he's actually a killer. Look at that beautiful, nice, face. Everything's so happy. He's a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best guys, actually," Trump said.
Driscoll earned a Ranger tab but did not serve in the Army Ranger regiment.
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