Hegseth weighs Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell for Army secretary role
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly considering chief spokesperson Sean Parnell to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, whose exit is expected by year-end, a report says. No formal announcement has been made.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with a statement from a senior Trump administration official.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly considering chief spokesperson Sean Parnell to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who is expected to leave his post.
Parnell Confirmed on Short List A Pentagon official confirmed he’s on Hegseth’s short list, The Hill reported on Wednesday. “Mr.
Parnell has a deep bench of supporters throughout the Administration and has worked tirelessly to enable cultural change and accountability in the Pentagon,” the official said.
In a statement to, a senior administration official said Parnell is “100 percent focused on the job he was appointed to” by President Donald Trump and Hegseth.
According to a previous report by The Hill, Parnell, a senior Hegseth adviser, has privately expressed interest in the role.
Driscoll’s Departure Still Unfolding Though Driscoll’s departure timeline has not been finalized, a report suggests he plans to step down by year-end, a move that would leave the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader.
Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has issued a formal announcement on his exit or a successor.
The potential shakeup follows a broader pattern under Hegseth, who ousted Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Randy George earlier this year as he consolidated authority among political appointees.
Parnell, a decorated Afghanistan War veteran who was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart for his combat service, has led the Pentagon’s press operation as chief spokesperson since February 2025.
Before joining the Defense Department, he unsuccessfully ran for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District in 2020.
He later launched a Senate campaign with Trump’s endorsement.
However, he withdrew from the race in November 2021 after losing a custody battle with his estranged wife.
The judge overseeing the case said he believed her allegations of abuse, which Parnell has denied.
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