Will the U.S. Secretary of the Army Resign Over Tensions with the Secretary of Defense?

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Crenshaw is expected to step down by the end of this year, or even earlier, after months of tension with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The newspaper cited sources familiar with the discussions, saying Crenshaw’s departure would leave the U.S. Army without a permanent civilian or military leader confirmed by the Senate.

Hegseth had dismissed General Randy George from his post as Army Chief of Staff in April without announcing reasons for the decision, and President Donald Trump has not yet nominated a replacement.

General Christopher Lavelle, the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff and former military aide to Hegseth, is currently serving as acting Chief of Staff.

Signs of an Impending Departure

According to the newspaper, Crenshaw and his family left the official residence designated for the Secretary of the Army at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall—adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, where several top defense officials reside—during the summer.

Crenshaw’s family moved to North Carolina, while he relocated to a smaller apartment within the base, according to sources speaking to the newspaper.

Spokespersons for the Pentagon and Crenshaw declined to comment, and no official announcement has confirmed his resignation or specified a departure date.

During nearly 18 months in office, Crenshaw developed a close partnership with General Randy George, working together to advance the U.S. Army’s adoption of new technologies, based on their shared vision of their critical role in future conflicts.

Crenshaw and George traveled to Ukraine alongside General Chris Donahue, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, where Crenshaw held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about peace negotiations.

Crenshaw pushed for the U.S. Army to leverage Ukraine’s experience in integrating commercial technology into combat zones. During his tenure, private companies committed to spending over $25 billion on establishing data centers, critical mineral refineries, and food facilities at Army bases across the United States.

However, George’s dismissal in April ended their partnership and drew criticism from Republican lawmakers in Congress. When questioned by lawmakers about the decision, Crenshaw praised George, calling him a "remarkable transformational leader," while acknowledging that selecting military leadership falls under executive authority.

Despite the newspaper’s reporting of ongoing friction between Crenshaw and Hegseth, Trump recently publicly praised the Secretary of the Army. Thus, according to the paper’s sources, Crenshaw’s resignation remains expected—not yet an official announcement.