NEW: Shock Report Says Army Secretary to Step Down Amid ‘Tension’ With Pete Hegseth

AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is preparing to leave the Trump administration following “months of tension” with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal revealed Friday that Driscoll is expected to step down before the end of the year — and could depart even earlier — citing people familiar with the discussions.

The looming exit would add another shakeup to the Army’s senior ranks. Hegseth abruptly ousted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April, and President Donald Trump has yet to put forward a nominee to replace him permanently. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who previously served as Hegseth’s senior military aide, is currently performing the chief of staff’s duties in an acting capacity.

One apparent sign that Driscoll is already preparing for his departure came this summer, when he and his family vacated the official residence designated for the Army secretary at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, according to the Journal.

Representatives for both Driscoll and the Pentagon declined to comment to the newspaper.

Despite the reported tensions with Hegseth, Driscoll received a public vote of confidence from Trump just last month, when the president said he had a “beautiful smile but he’s actually a killer” during a defense conference in Pennsylvania.

Interestingly, an April report from the New York Post alleged Hegseth was increasingly consumed by “paranoia” over the possibility he could be pushed out and replaced by Driscoll.

The report, citing current and former administration officials, said Hegseth’s anxiety about Driscoll’s standing inside Trump’s orbit helped drive George’s firing, along with the ousters of Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green.

At the time, a source told the paper, “[Hegseth’s] been told by the White House he can’t fire Driscoll, at least for the moment,” adding, “So what Pete has been doing is taking anyone he perceives to be close with Driscoll and going after them.”

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