{"text":[[{"start":0,"text":"US Army secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his position following a long period of tension with defence secretary Pete Hegseth, the latest shake-up in leadership at the Pentagon."}],[{"start":19.22,"text":"Driscoll on Monday “spoke to the president about the current state of the Army and submitted his resignation”, an Army official said."}],[{"start":27.22,"text":"His decision to leave as the Army’s top civilian official, coupled with Hegseth’s purge of top military brass, leaves a leadership vacuum in the largest branch of the US armed forces as the conflict with Iran drags on."}],[{"start":40.76,"text":"The Iraq war veteran, who played a high-profile role in Ukraine peace talks last year, had clashed with Hegseth over big personnel decisions."}],[{"start":49.16,"text":"“Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness and Hegseth’s blocking those efforts specifically by firing the generals who were responsible,” said a person familiar with his departure."}],[{"start":62.48,"text":"Their biggest clash came over the defence secretary’s firing of General Randy George as army chief of staff, the top uniformed position in the service and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."}],[{"start":73.82,"text":"Driscoll and George had a close relationship. The army secretary told Congress after George’s firing that he “adored” the general."}],[{"start":81.62,"text":"Both the army secretary and chief of staff roles require Senate confirmation, leaving the service without its two top leaders. General Christopher LaNeve, who is close to Hegseth, is vice army chief of staff and has temporarily taken over the position."}],[{"start":97.16,"text":"Driscoll’s counterpart for the US Navy, John Phelan, was fired in April. The former Navy secretary also clashed with Hegseth over a shipbuilding programme, along with the nominations and promotions of naval officers."}],[{"start":110.34,"text":"Hegseth has purged two dozen generals and admirals throughout the military, including nine from the army. He has also blocked dozens of promotions."}],[{"start":118.94,"text":"Driscoll, who had worked in finance and venture capital, had focused on modernising the army and pushing for the incorporation of new technologies into its arsenal. He also worked to bring billions of dollars of private capital investment for projects including building data centres on army bases."}],[{"start":134.14,"text":"The Army secretary became the face of the Pentagon’s efforts to acquire cheap drones and counter-drone technology, which alienated Hegseth."}],[{"start":144.18,"text":"The White House also tapped Driscoll to be part of the US team brokering negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end their war."}],[{"start":153.02,"text":"Driscoll is widely expected to join any future presidential campaign of vice-president JD Vance, who is a close friend."}],[{"start":161.54,"text":"The two veterans attended Yale Law School together, and Driscoll was brought on to the Trump campaign as an adviser by the vice-president."}],[{"start":170,"text":"The president has also spoken well of the army secretary. At a defence event in Pennsylvania last month, Trump said Driscoll was “really out there with that beautiful smile . . . but he’s actually a killer”."}],[{"start":182.86,"text":"The White House praised Driscoll’s tenure following his resignation, citing his “outstanding leadership during historic military operations” along with his “emphasis on readiness and lethality” and work on the Ukraine talks."}],[{"start":196.34,"text":"A spokesperson for Hegseth referred a request for comment on Driscoll’s resignation to the Army."}],[{"start":207.42,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788223841_9003.mp3"}