The White House reviewed potential replacements for Steve Feinberg after Dan Driscoll resigned as Army secretary. Pete Hegseth then pushed back on reports that Feinberg’s job was in jeopardy, saying he was not going anywhere.
Driscoll said he had served as Army secretary since February 2025 and announced his departure on Tuesday. In his statement, he thanked Donald Trump and Hegseth, while and The reported that his decision followed months of tension with Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth and Steve Feinberg
Hegseth used both a post on X on Saturday and an emailed statement to Newsweek to defend Feinberg. He said reports that Feinberg’s position may be in jeopardy were “COMPLETELY false,” added that the Defense Department “has never had a better Deputy Secretary than Steve Feinberg,” and wrote that “the Deputy Secretary isn’t going anywhere.”
He also said, “Steve Feinberg has my 100 percent full support, and has since Day One.” In the same message, Hegseth said, “Outside forces (i.e. companies he is pressing for results!) want Steve gone because he is so effective in advancing @POTUS’ agenda.”
Defense Department turnover
The review landed as the Defense Department was already dealing with turnover at senior levels. As of September 2, at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian defense leaders had been fired or departed since Hegseth became defense secretary, including Charles Q. Brown Jr., Lisa Franchetti and John Phelan.
That history gives the Feinberg review immediate weight inside the Pentagon. Feinberg had also recently pressed defense contractors to speed up weapons production, and last month he wrote that “Years-long development cycles are not acceptable.”
Dan Driscoll’s departure
Driscoll’s exit added another break in the leadership chain Hegseth is managing. He said, “Our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families are our Nation’s very best, and they have inspired me every day,” and added, “We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth.”
For now, the White House review is the only clear step that has surfaced around Feinberg’s future. Hegseth’s public defense suggests he is staying in place, but the fact that replacements were reviewed shows the post is under active scrutiny inside the White House.
