Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns as Hegseth's 20-plus Pentagon Purge Hits Readiness
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 8
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns as Hegseth's 20-plus Pentagon Purge Hits Readiness
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 8
Summary
Dan Driscoll stepped down last week after repeated clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over how fast to modernize the Army, making him the latest senior casualty of a Pentagon shake-up.
Driscoll had pushed to spread drones across regular Army units, arguing the Ukraine war exposed how cheap unmanned systems and anti-missile defenses outpace the U.S. military's slow procurement system.
Hegseth has removed or sidelined the top uniformed leaders of the Army, Navy and Air Force and at least two dozen generals, admirals and civilian officials, while allies including Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump still back him.
The leadership turmoil is unfolding as the Iran war stretches U.S. forces: about 1,500 Patriot interceptors and roughly one-third of a 3,000-strong Tomahawk stockpile were used, according to CSIS.
That strain is also feeding allied anxiety as Washington shifts resources from Europe and the Pacific to the Gulf, including a planned 5,000-troop cut from the 40,000 U.S. troops based in Germany.