{"id":833115,"date":"2026-09-01T14:32:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/833115\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T14:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:32:09","slug":"the-latest-army-secretary-dan-driscoll-is-stepping-down-white-house-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/833115\/","title":{"rendered":"The Latest: Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down, White House says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down<\/a> after just 18 months on the job. The White House announced his departure after Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump about the current state of the Army, an Army official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He’s only the latest top military leader<\/a> to leave during the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Service is rushing to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting relied upon by one-third of all voters, according to a whistleblower statement<\/a> released Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.<\/p>\n

And in a blow to congressional authority, a divided Supreme Court<\/a> is allowing construction to continue<\/a> on Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom<\/a> as he flexes unprecedented executive power and remakes the capital in his image.<\/p>\n

Here’s the Latest:<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s leader slams the US as unreliable<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian vented about the Trump administration in public before his private meeting with Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe aggression that America carried out against Iran had no legal, scientific, or logical justification. They martyred our leader, they martyred our commanders, they martyred our scientists, they martyred our innocent students, they beat our people; in other words, this behavior cannot be justified in any mental, rational, or international framework,\u201d Pezeshkian said. \u201cUnfortunately, they claim human rights, they claim to be law-abiding, and the things they are doing are not documented in any framework that can be relied upon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russian president says ties with Iran are \u2018growing steadily\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I have stated repeatedly, Russia stands in solidarity with the Iranian people. We admire your courage and resilience in the pursuit of your national interests,\u201d Vladimir Putin said in public before his meeting with Iranian leader Masoud Pezeshkian Tuesdayon the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization<\/a> summit.<\/p>\n

Putin also said that Moscow has welcomed Iran\u2019s ceasefire agreement with the United States early this year, but that \u201ctruce proved unstable and all too fragile.\u201d So meanwhile, Russia has continued to supply Iran with \u201cessential goods\u201d while maintaining momentum on trade.<\/p>\n

In turn, Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its support amid both U.S. sanctions and its conflict with Israel and Washington. Iran has scrambled to sustain trade amid U.S. threats to sanction any country<\/a> that refuses to break ties with the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n

Iran willing to go back to ceasefire agreement if US does<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian during a summit<\/a> in Kyrgyzstan that \u201cif the U.S. returns to its commitments in the memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate,\u201d Iranian state media reported.<\/p>\n

The June memorandum started a 60-day period for negotiations aimed at reaching a wider peace deal. Iran agreed to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines and allow ships to pass during the period, and the U.S. agreed to end its naval blockade, lift sanctions, issue waivers for Iranian oil exports and begin work on a reconstruction package for Iran, among other things. But the ceasefire broke down quickly, and while there has been a lull in fighting, the two sides exchanged fire on the weekend<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While Pezeshkian has long favored a negotiated end to the war, Iran\u2019s most powerful force remains the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which is pressing for Iranian control over the strait and financial compensation for the war.<\/p>\n

Democrats are deeply concerned about the Pentagon\u2019s leadership<\/p>\n

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that Driscoll \u201cworked to transform the Army for the battlefield of the future, and he engaged with Congress candidly and consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSecretary Hegseth is cultivating a culture where dissent is punished and competence is secondary to personal allegiance,\u201d said Reed, a former Army officer, while noting that \u201chundreds of thousands of soldiers are deployed around the world, many in combat zones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Jason Crow, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and co-chairs the House Army Caucus, said the \u201cPentagon right now is, in some cases, rudderless,\u201d with so many senior leaders gone. \u201cSo, I\u2019m gravely concerned about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Republicans and Democrats alike praise the outgoing Army secretary<\/p>\n

Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican who had served in the Army National Guard, said on X that Driscoll is \u201ca transformative leader who brought common sense and discipline to the Department of the Army.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had the pleasure of working with him closely, and appreciated how engaged he was from mentoring cadets at West Point to leading the Army at the Pentagon,\u201d Womack wrote. \u201cThe Army is better equipped and prepared to tackle emerging threats because of his leadership that strengthened the force while putting our Soldiers first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat and former Army Ranger, told reporters that he worked well with Driscoll despite their policy differences.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was actually nice, I will say, having somebody who was smart, that knew the policy, that wanted to do the work, that had a background in these issues,\u201d Crow said, adding that \u201cit\u2019s unfortunate that somebody like that can\u2019t last in this administration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exit follows other Army departures, rollback of drone program<\/p>\n

Driscoll\u2019s departure follows the ouster of one of his allies from the Army as well as the rollback of a drone program he had championed. Hegseth had suddenly ousted the service\u2019s top uniformed leader<\/a>, Gen. Randy George, in April, while the Army\u2019s commander in Europe and Africa, Gen. Christopher Donahue, unexpectedly stepped down<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

Gen. Christopher LaNeve took George\u2019s place and directed a Europe-based Army unit that was building its own drones<\/a> to end its efforts.<\/p>\n

Driscoll told Congress in April that the military\u2019s civilian leadership gets \u201cto pick the leaders that they want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Driscoll was an unlikely negotiator in Ukraine-Russia war<\/p>\n

Driscoll is an Iraq war veteran, tech investor and former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom Driscoll met at Yale Law School. When nominating Driscoll in 2024, Trump called him \u201ca disruptor and change agent.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Army secretary, Driscoll was tapped for the unusual role of key negotiator<\/a> to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He was also a major force behind trying to cut the red tape for military contractors to quickly develop more drones and counter-drone capabilities as warfare rapidly changes around the world.<\/p>\n

No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported.<\/p>\n

House lawmakers return to Washington with a stopgap funding bill atop the list of priorities<\/p>\n

House lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday with a short to-do list after five weeks back in their home districts. The first order of business is most likely a vote on a stopgap spending bill<\/a> designed to keep the federal government fully funded through early December, removing the possibility of a shutdown before the midterm elections.<\/p>\n

With election season getting underway, votes are also expected on measures designed to amplify the GOP\u2019s messaging strategy going into November, most notably a resolution condemning socialism. Republicans are trying to tie the Democratic Party in general to the democratic socialist<\/a> candidates who have succeeded this year in running for office.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing is we\u2019ve got to make sure this government gets funded and we don\u2019t have another Democratic shutdown,\u201d Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters as he prepared to open the chamber for business. The funding vote will most likely take place Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

Postal Service is rushing to comply with Trump\u2019s order, with millions of votes at stake<\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Service is poised to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting relied upon by one-third of all voters, according to a whistleblower statement released Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.<\/p>\n

The effort is part of the implementation of Trump\u2019s executive order limiting mail voting<\/a> and has been temporarily halted<\/a> by a federal judge. The ruling is being appealed by the administration<\/a> and the directive may ultimately end up back before the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

The disclosure from the unidentified whistleblower contends that the Postal Service has been scrambling to try to build a complex system that would normally take a year or more in only three months, sometimes in defiance of the judge\u2019s orders halting work. The goal is to have it ready for use in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n

The disclosure contends that, due to the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters. It details a system that election officials have already warned could not be implemented before the first mail ballots begin going out Friday in North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

With elections nearing, battleground Republicans still waiting for Trump’s campaign wallet<\/p>\n

When Vice President JD Vance stepped on stage in Michigan on Monday, it was MAGA Inc. writing the check for the campaign event. It was a rare bit of spending in a battleground state from a powerful political organization that has mostly been missing in action this year.<\/p>\n

With just over two months to go before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump<\/a> is still sitting on most of his colossal war chest<\/a>, and he\u2019s been growing his money pile instead of spending it.<\/p>\n

Even though the president and his team insist they\u2019ll open their wallet soon, frustrations are growing as Republicans try to maintain control of Congress despite headwinds partially of Trump\u2019s own creation. While the president remains the party\u2019s best asset in turning out its base, he is historically unpopular,<\/a> with low marks on his handling of the economy and the ongoing war in Iran.<\/p>\n

The ticking clock narrows Republicans\u2019 options because time on the airwaves gets more limited and more expensive as the election draws near.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump\u2019s $400 million ballroom<\/p>\n

A divided Supreme Court<\/a> on Monday allowed the White House to continue construction on a $400 million ballroom project as lawsuits play out, a win for Trump as he flexes unprecedented executive power and remakes the capital in his image.<\/p>\n

The apparent 5-4 decision replaces a temporary order issued earlier this month, shortly before a court-ordered halt would have gone into effect.<\/p>\n

That temporary order was signed by Chief Justice John Roberts, assigned to handle appeals from the capital. But he publicly disagreed with the latest decision, writing a strong dissent that said the project is likely unlawful because it hasn\u2019t been approved by Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,\u201d Roberts wrote. The court\u2019s three liberal-leaning justices agreed.<\/p>\n

The majority, on the other hand, found the National Trust for Historic Preservation likely did not have the legal right to challenge the project.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months on the job, White House says<\/p>\n

Driscoll’s departure is only the latest of a top military leader<\/a> during the Trump administration, and no reason was given Monday. He’s a friend of Vice President JD Vance, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported. The U.S. military leadership has seen a series of shakeups<\/a>, with the Army especially seeing major upheaval.<\/p>\n

A U.S. Army official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump on the current state of the Army and submitted his resignation. The official did not provide additional details. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army. Driscoll\u2019s resignation was reported earlier Monday by The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

By Ben Finley and Aamer Madhani<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after just 18 months on the job. The White House announced…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":833116,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[352746,254350,4,450,38431,12,451,6009,18862,13410,3,1572,111,452,453],"class_list":["post-833115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking-news","tag-aamer-madhani","tag-ben-finley","tag-breaking-news","tag-breakingnews","tag-dan-driscoll","tag-donald-trump","tag-headlines","tag-jd-vance","tag-john-roberts","tag-mike-johnson","tag-news","tag-pete-hegseth","tag-politics","tag-top-stories","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=833115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833115\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/833116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=833115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=833115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=833115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}