Undersecretary and 'drone guy' Trump resigns, 'dissatisfaction with Hegseth's course'
The American Undersecretary of the Army Dan Driscoll has resigned. No official reason has been given, but behind the scenes, according to American media, a conflict with Defense Minister Pete Hegseth is playing a role.
Recently, there have been more position changes and dismissals in the armed forces. In April, the highest-ranking military officer, General Randy George, was dismissed by Hegseth. He is an ally and personal friend of Driscoll.
Driscoll (41) reportedly submitted his resignation personally to President Trump. He is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that Hegseth has dismissed so many army leaders and blocked promotions of capable people because they were not in the right camp.
Disrupting
Driscoll has a background in the army. He was appointed officer in 2007 and served in Iraq in 2009. He was appointed army secretary in February last year. That is the highest civilian official of the army. President Trump called him at his appointment someone who disrupts and can push through changes.
Driscoll advocated for a more flexible army and strongly supported the acquisition of cheaper weapons. He also tried to reduce the bureaucracy around procurement.
Drone guy
Last year, Driscoll expressed sharp criticism of large arms manufacturers, who according to him "had deceived the people, the Pentagon, and the army" by selling expensive military equipment for which cheaper commercial alternatives existed. Driscoll saw much promise in drones, and because of that also earned the nickname Trump's drone guy.
Precisely the successor of Randy George, General Christopher LaNeve, scaled back an American program to modernize drones. An American army unit in Europe that manufactured its own drones had to stop, Reuters reports.
Driscoll also played a role in talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. In that role, he also spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The points plan that Driscoll had to sell to him would, according to critics, mean a de facto surrender of Ukraine.
Divergent opinions
Driscoll receives praise from both Republicans and Democrats. Democrat Jason Crow, who himself served in an elite army unit, said he enjoyed working with Driscoll despite their political differences. According to him, he was knowledgeable and wanted to get things done. "It is a pity that someone like that cannot endure in this administration."
Jack Reed, a Democratic senator, says Driscoll worked on an army ready for the future, and moreover cooperated openly and constructively with Congress. "Minister Hegseth maintains a culture in which divergent opinions are punished and competencies are less important than personal loyalty," Reed believes.
The White House has given no official reason for Driscoll's departure. He is thanked for his "exceptional leadership" and his efforts for Trump's "Make America Strong Again agenda."