Prior to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitting his resignation Monday, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had been suggested by some close to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a potential replacement for the Senate-confirmed position.

The Hill reported last week that Parnell’s name was being floated, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Asked about the reports, a senior Administration official told TIME: “Sean Parnell is 100% focused on the job he was appointed to by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.”

News of Driscoll’s departure from the role he held for around 18 months came after months of reported tensions with Hegseth and turmoil within the department.

According to the Atlantic, a person familiar with Driscoll’s resignation said he had recently “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.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly did not address the tensions and fallout when approached by TIME, but instead emphasized that the United States Army is “more powerful than ever thanks to [Driscoll’s] work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.”

Driscoll’s resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile departures within the Pentagon, following the April ouster of the Army’s top uniformed leader, Gen. Randy George, and the June departure of the lead commander in Europe and Africa, Gen. Christopher Donahue.

The Washington Post reported that Hegseth had sought to remove George several times and that Driscoll had previously blocked or delayed those efforts, arguing that George had done nothing wrong and should be judged on merit.

Driscoll openly praised George, referring to him as “an amazing, transformational leader” whom he loved and respected during an April House Appropriations Committee Hearing.

Alongside the reported tensions, Hegseth has also come under serious scrutiny for the duration and mounting cost of the Iran war, which surpassed the six-month mark last week.

“I don’t have any confidence in him anymore. I think he’s all over the place—he’s accelerating the retirement or forcing out some of the most distinguished leaders in the DOD that we have,” Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said in July.

Meanwhile, under Parnell, the Department of Defense has imposed various restrictions limiting journalists’ access in the Pentagon.

In an unprecedented move in June, the department designated its press office a classified area.

“The Pentagon Press Office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility,” said deputy Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez. “As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space. There’s nothing controversial about that.”

Now, with talk turning to who may replace Driscoll in the pivotal role of Army Secretary, Parnell's name continues to be floated. Notably, whoever is selected would need to be confirmed for the position by the Senate. 

Here’s what to know about Parnell's military record, his past controversies, and more.

Parnell is an Afghanistan veteran who penned a memoir on his experience

Parnell arrived in Afghanistan in 2006 and during his 16-month deployment was awarded two Bronze stars and the Purple Heart. He was deployed alongside his platoon, nicknamed the Outlaws.

He returned home with shrapnel in his leg and a brain injury that had left him with vision problems.

Following retirement on medical grounds, he penned a 2012 war story memoir titled Outlaw Platoon, in partnership with author John R. Bruning, detailing his experiences in the region.

Parnell went on to become a senior advisor for the Concerned Veterans of America and is credited with playing a key role in the passage of the Mission Act in 2018 under President Donald Trump, with the goal of delivering care and support for U.S. veterans.

Parnell previously criticized Trump before becoming a staunch supporter

Parnell backed now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination where he faced off against Trump, who went on to win both the nomination and presidency.

According to Parnell, his support for Rubio, who at the time was a Senator in Florida, was cemented by his vocal backing of matters related to Veterans Affairs (VA).

“There are lots of strong options. But if fixing the VA, rebuilding our military, and doing right by our veterans is a top priority for you, then Senator Rubio should be your first and only choice,” Parnell said in a campaign press release.

In a separate interview, he described Rubio as a "unifying voice” who the country “desperately needs” and labeled him “my guy.”

By contrast, Parnell had called out Trump in 2015, referring to his criticism of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, a prisoner of war, as “the height of arrogance,” arguing that Trump had “no clue what our Vietnam POWs endured.”

However, Parnell had a change of heart once Trump took office, stating in a 2019 interview that the President had earned his respect “because he forces us to talk about issues. Political correctness doesn’t allow us to talk about them.”

At the 2020 Republican National Convention, Parnell further praised Trump, insisting he had “unleashed the economic might of this nation like no other President in our history.”

Parnell suspended his campaign for Senate amid abuse allegations

Parnell, after running unsuccessfully for the House in 2020, went on to launch a bid as the GOP Senate candidate in Pennsylvania. He suspended his Trump-backed campaign in November 2021, after losing a fight for custody of his children to his then-estranged wife, who had accused him in court of abuse.

Laurie Snell had alleged that Parnell choked her and injured their children. Parnell vehemently denied the claims.

Snell also testified in court that Parnell had been unfaithful.

Following Trump’s announcement in February 2025 that Parnell was tapped to become chief spokesperson for the Pentagon, some media coverage saw the abuse allegations revisited.

If Parnell were put forward for a Senate-confirmed position in the future, the historical allegations could be brought up in his confirmation hearing.

Keir Starmer, who resigned as Britain's Prime Minister in June, announced Tuesday he will also be stepping down from Parliament to focus on international affairs.

Speaking to Camden New Journal, Starmer—who led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in 2024—said it had “been a huge honor and privilege” to serve as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St. Pancras in North London for the past 11 years.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to Starmer during his first address to parliament since taking over leadership of the nation, crediting Starmer for securing one of Labour's "best victories" and creating a "platform to change this country for the better."

A by-election will now take place to replace Starmer as MP, with details to be finalized on the contenders and exact date.

Shortly after the news broke, Starmer shared a statement via social media, further explaining the reasons behind his departure.

You can read his words in full, below:

“Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor.

It’s been an honor and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defense, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls.

As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home.

I look back with pride on what my constituency team and I have delivered in Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and I thank all those who I was privileged to work with on so many issues of local concern: affordable housing projects, delivering first class education and tackling youth violence through our Camden Youth Safety Taskforce.

I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for Leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my Party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as Prime Minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defense and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners.

I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras. I could not have done this job without them.

There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government.”

Read More: Andy Burnham Calls for 'New Politics' in U.K. in First Speech as Labour Leader

Starmer's final months at Downing Street

Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister and head of the Labour Party in June following months of scrutiny over his leadership.

The one-time lawyer initially fought against calls from within his own party to step down over his handling of the appointment of Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the U.S. who held a yearslong correspondence with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

After it was revealed in April that Mandelson had failed the security vetting in January 2025, only for his appointment as ambassador to go ahead the following month anyway on account of the Foreign Office overruling the decision, Starmer faced tough questions in parliament. Starmer denied having prior knowledge of the failed vetting process, telling parliament that “a deliberate decision was taken to withhold that material” from him.

Starmer weathered the storm, but faced renewed calls to step down in May, after Labour's poor performance in local polls.

Amid a flurry of ministerial resignations from his Cabinet, speculation grew as to who could might potentially challenge and replace Starmer. When Burnham—who had been open about his desire to launch a leadership challenge—cleared his own path back to Westminster through winning the Makerfield by-election, Starmer announced his departure.

Read More: How the Iran War Splintered U.K.-U.S Relations as Trump Turned on Starmer

Starmer endured a splintered relationship with Trump towards the end

Soon after Trump returned to the White House in early 2025, Starmer paid a visit to Washington, D.C., and presented the U.S. President with an invitation from King Charles for a second historic state visit to the U.K.
Downing Street later secured one of the first international agreements with Washington following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, marking the early success of the relationship between the two world leaders.

Trump and Starmer’s partnership was further strengthened when the President traveled to the U.K. in September, as the pair went on to sign a "groundbreaking" billion-dollar U.K.-U.S. Tech Prosperity Deal.

But cracks started to appear earlier this year, as Starmer was among the European leaders to staunchly oppose Trump’s threats to annex Greenland. Another disagreement occurred when Trump downplayed NATO’s contributions in the war in Afghanistan, prompting a public rebuke from Starmer.

Relations further splintered when Trump repeatedly lambasted Starmer for refusing to actively involve the U.K. in the Iran war.

“He ruins relationships. We are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,” Trump said of Starmer in March.

Weeks later, the British Prime Minister admitted he was “fed up” with the President’s war in Iran and the detrimental financial impact it was having on the U.K.

President Donald Trump has defended having Russia at the G20 finance meeting amid backlash from European officials who disapproved of the move.

“We’re going to see what happens, but we like getting along with everybody. One of the reasons that I’m so successful, I get along with everybody,” Trump told reporters when asked about the matter.

The U.S. hosted Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday where finance officials, central bank governors, and other international figureheads from 20 major economies gathered.

Russia has remained a member of the G20, but the country’s Finance Minister had been physically absent from the G20 summits since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European officials remain committed to isolating Moscow over the war.

This time, however, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the event in Asheville. Russia's Finance Ministry said the pair discussed Russia-U.S. cooperation on financial matters and interaction within the G20 framework.

A Treasury spokesperson told Axios that Bessent and Siluanov spoke about Trump’s Ukraine peace plan and economic growth. A source familiar with the matter is quoted as telling the publication that Bessent ruled out economic relief for Moscow as long as the war in Ukraine continues.

TIME has reached out to the U.S. Treasury and White House for comment.

The U.S. had not publicly announced Russia’s planned attendance ahead of the meeting.

European leaders were irked by the move, with some reportedly refusing to participate in a group photograph if Siluanov was included. Instead, Bessent posed for a photo alongside Siluanov on the sidelines of the summit.

European leaders, U.S. lawmakers voice disapproval over Russia’s inclusion

A spokesperson for Germany's Finance Ministry pointed TIME to remarks Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil shared with reporters at the summit, during which he said he “would have wished that the Russian Finance Minister is not received here at the G20 in the USA as a normal guest.”

Klingbeil added: “Every day, people die due to the Russian attacks. One cannot simply return to normality under those circumstances.” Klingbeil also expressed he had made clear to his fellow European officials he would not pose alongside Russia’s finance minister for the G20 group photo.

The final so-called “family photo” notably did not include Siluanov alongside the ministers and senior officials from other countries.

Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told Reuters he was unhappy to see Russia represented, although he recognized the right of G20 hosts to invite guests.

"We do not trust Russia. They lie constantly and you need to be really, really cautious while discussing with them,” he said. "So for me it would be very difficult to have any kind of conversation with Russia.”

Russia’s attendance also drew ire from lawmakers in the U.S.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “As Russia kills civilians in Ukraine, the White House hosts Putin's sanctioned Finance Minister on U.S. soil. The Trump Admin needs to pressure Putin and his cronies, not offer them a platform. With the House back in D.C., it’s time to pass Russia sanctions.”

A package of tougher sanctions on Russia—pushed by late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham—is making its way through Congress after it was approved by the U.S. Senate early August.

Democratic leaders on Monday jointly urged the White House not to wait to restart stalled Russia sanctions.

“Donald Trump already has ample authority to impose sanctions on the companies, individuals, and vessels propping up a Russian war machine that continues its deadly attacks on Ukraine. Congress does not need to greenlight new tariff authority for the President to impose those sanctions on Russia today,” Representatives Don Beyer of Virginia, Gregory Meeks of New York, Richard Neal of Massachusetts, said in a joint statement, alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

U.S. officials have previously objected to Russia attending G20 meetings

In the past, U.S. officials have strongly opposed Russia’s participation in G20 meetings.

Asked in March 2022, whether Russia should be removed from the G20, Biden answered: “On the latter point, my answer is yes. That depends on the G20.” If members could not agree to remove Russia, Biden said Ukraine should be invited to attend and observe G20 meetings.

During a finance meeting with global senior finance officials in April 2022 in Washington for the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring meetings, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and officials representing Britain, Canada, and the European Central Bank walked out when Siluanov began addressing the gathering virtually.

“My decision to work with others to leave when the Russian Finance Minister began to speak was intended to make clear Russia’s behavior so violates, is so offensive to international norms, we’re not willing to allow Russia to participate or to listen to what the Russians have to say,” said Yellen during a subsequent press conference.

The Administration underscored their opposition to Russia’s inclusion in international forums during another meeting with G20 finance ministers in Indonesia in July 2022.

“Russia’s actions are not the actions of a government that upholds international norms and laws. Representatives of the Putin regime have no place at this forum,” said Yellen.