Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s focus on “culture war” issues is reportedly causing growing concern inside the Pentagon following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
CNN reporters Haley Britzky and Zachary Cohen published a lengthy report Wednesday citing multiple sources who questioned whether Hegseth has placed social issues ahead of efforts to modernize the United States military.
Driscoll announced his resignation this week, becoming the latest senior military leader to leave his position or be removed during Hegseth’s tenure.
A source familiar with Driscoll’s departure told CNN that the Army secretary raised concerns with the administration about military readiness and the Army’s transformation efforts when submitting his resignation.
According to the source, Driscoll specifically objected to Hegseth allegedly blocking those efforts by dismissing generals who had been responsible for carrying them out.
Defense officials have reportedly expressed alarm not only over Driscoll’s departure but also over the removal of other military leaders. Some of those officers had been leading attempts to modernize the armed forces as drone technology and other capabilities rapidly advance.
Sources highlighted the firing or “forced exits” of Army Chief of Staff Randy George, former U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander Gen. Christopher Donahue and former U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command commander Gen. David Hodne.
“You’re taking away three of the most seasoned combat leaders of a generation who are in a unique position to articulate battlefield requirements,” a former Army official told CNN. “So, I think that the concerns are very real.”
Another source said Driscoll and Fitzgerald concentrated more on modernization than on social matters.
One defense official claimed Driscoll repeatedly attempted to accelerate the Army’s ability to learn, conduct experiments and purchase new capabilities. Hegseth, the official alleged, continued returning to questions involving soldiers’ appearances, behavior and leadership.
A former senior Army official described “turbulence” within the service as a result of the dismissals and Hegseth’s attention to diversity, equity and inclusion policies and other cultural issues.
“It’s critical that you have key leaders that understand technology and have the temperament to deal with industry and turn that into the formation,” the former official said.
The official argued that removing those leaders for what the source called “arbitrary reasons” has created confusion and left a leadership void within the Army.
A European defense official also pointed to what was described as a disconnect between Hegseth’s stated modernization priorities and his public rhetoric concerning “muscles,” “dudes in dresses” and testosterone.
Hegseth has repeatedly criticized DEI programs and “dudes in dresses” in the military. During an October gathering of top generals, he condemned what he called the “woke department” and blasted identity-focused policies.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell strongly rejected CNN’s portrayal, calling Hegseth a “transformative” leader.
Parnell said Hegseth, acting under President Donald Trump’s direction, restored standards and merit while strengthening the military’s arsenal. He also claimed morale and recruitment across the services had reached record highs.
“Secretary Hegseth has slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way,” Parnell said.
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