US army secretary resigns after months of tension

BBC:

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation after about 18 months in the role.

His departure was confirmed by CBS, the BBC’s US media partner, which reported it came after months of conflict between him and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The youngest-ever army secretary has often been referred to as President Donald Trump’s “drone guy”.

Driscoll, 41, has been “highly effective” in advancing Trump’s agenda “to Make America Strong Again” and provided “outstanding leadership” during military operations, the White House said in a statement given to CBS.

The BBC has contacted the White House, Pentagon and Army for comment.

Driscoll is the latest in a string of recent high-profile military leaders to depart, including Navy Secretary John Phelan who abruptly quit in April.

Other notable departures include Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Army Gen David Hodne and Maj Gen William Green.

Since entering the Pentagon, Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military officers, including the chief of naval operations and the Air Force’s vice-chief of staff.