WASHINGTON — Concerns from Army Secretary Pete Hegseth about losing his position led to the dismissal of the Army’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Randy George. This information comes from both current and former administration officials.
On Thursday, Hegseth called for George’s resignation, citing undisclosed issues against the backdrop of rising tensions tied to the Iran war. This situation followed months of friction with Dan Driscoll, the Army Secretary.
According to administration insiders, “This is all fueled by the anxiety and paranoia that Pete has developed since Signalgate, which, unfortunately, has been exacerbated by some of his aides who were meant to ease tensions.” This refers to a mishap in March 2025, where Hegseth accidentally included reporters in a military group chat involving senior national security officials.
Additionally, two other Army generals were also let go — Gen. David Hoddon from the Army Transformation and Training Command and Maj. Gen. William Green of the Army Chaplain Corps. The department stated only that “it’s time for a shift in leadership.”
A source close to the Trump administration indicated there’s a significant conflict between Hegseth and Driscoll. The White House reportedly told aides that Driscoll cannot be dismissed at the moment.
Hegseth’s worry about job security stems from the fact that Driscoll was considered a top candidate to replace him. Hence, it seems Hegseth decided to target someone close to Driscoll, with this being the most recent example of that strategy.
Driscoll shares a close friendship with Vice President J.D. Vance, and they attended Yale Law School together after serving in the Iraq War. His involvement as a negotiator in the Ukraine war heightened concerns among some regarding the Army Secretary.
“This isn’t merely one of Pete’s DEI foci. It’s more about his ongoing pursuit of influence within the Army,” remarked another source.
Hegseth has reportedly sidelined Driscoll, despite Vance’s support for the latter. The tension appears to be further fueled by Trump’s past praise for Driscoll’s performance in his role.
John Ullyot, a Marine Corps veteran with national security experience in both Trump administrations, remarked that Driscoll represents genuine leadership, which Hegseth seems to struggle with as he witnesses the respect Driscoll commands from Army generals.
Hegseth’s Spokesperson May Replace Driscoll
One official mentioned that Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s primary spokesperson, is positioning himself as a potential Army Secretary should Driscoll be dismissed. Parnell, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient from his time in Afghanistan, is seen as a likely candidate for such a vacancy.
Colleagues in the Army noted that Parnell, like Driscoll, is dedicated to his responsibilities. “It’s reasonable to consider that Sean could be a successor if Driscoll leaves,” an official added.
While Parnell did not directly address his aspirations, he remarked that Hegseth and Driscoll maintain a “great” working relationship.
Complexities Under Hegseth’s Leadership
Currently, there’s no indication that President Trump intends to fire either Hegseth or Driscoll immediately, but the ongoing conflict raises stakes for both parties involved.
Recent Cabinet changes, including the dismissals of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have piled on the pressure, especially as Trump seeks to bring resolution to the Iran conflict.
There were even social media jabs from the Iranian government, referencing a fired military official sarcastically suggesting that “the regime change was successful.”
One insider said Driscoll’s brief involvement in the Ukraine negotiations proved pivotal. They noted, “Hegseth became increasingly paranoid, particularly after Vance assigned Driscoll to lead the negotiations in Ukraine.” This development, according to the source, upset Hegseth significantly.
Concerns were raised about the implications of such a situation for the president’s messaging regarding the progress and state of the Iran war.
