U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under intense scrutiny following revelations that he shared sensitive military information regarding planned airstrikes in Yemen through an unclassified Signal chat group. The group reportedly included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. This disclosure marks the second instance where Hegseth is accused of mishandling classified details via the encrypted messaging app.
The New York Times reported that Hegseth created the Signal group in January, prior to his official confirmation as defense secretary. The chat included discussions about the timing and details of forthcoming military operations against Houthi forces in Yemen. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the group comprised about a dozen individuals, raising concerns about the dissemination of sensitive information to individuals without proper security clearances.
This incident follows a previous controversy where Hegseth inadvertently included a journalist in a Signal chat discussing national security matters, leading to widespread criticism and an internal investigation. The fallout from these events has resulted in significant leadership changes within the Pentagon. Top officials Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick were dismissed following the leak investigation. Additionally, Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, departed his position for another role within the Department of Defense.
The situation has sparked political infighting, with accusations of sabotage and slander among current and former Pentagon officials. Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tammy Duckworth, have called for Hegseth’s resignation, citing risks to national security. The Pentagon and White House have dismissed the reports as politically motivated leaks from disgruntled former staff members.
The revelations have raised serious questions about Hegseth’s capacity to lead the Department of Defense and maintain operational confidentiality. The use of unclassified communication channels for discussing sensitive military operations has drawn comparisons to previous lapses in information security protocols.
