April 21, 2025 – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting criticism after reports revealed he shared classified military details about a planned Yemen strike in a second private Signal chat—this one including his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The revelation comes just weeks after a similar controversy involving an accidental leak to a journalist, raising serious concerns about Hegseth’s judgment and the security of sensitive military operations under his leadership.
A Repeat Security Breach
According to multiple reports, Hegseth used his personal phone to discuss operational details—including flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets involved in the March 15 strike on Houthi rebels—in a private Signal group chat with at least a dozen individuals, none of whom held necessary security clearances for such information.
This follows last month’s embarrassing incident in which The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a separate Signal chat where Hegseth and other top Trump administration officials discussed the same Yemen operation. That leak triggered an ongoing Pentagon inspector general investigation.
Now, the discovery of a second unauthorized disclosure has intensified scrutiny. The latest group, reportedly named “Defense | Team Huddle,” was created by Hegseth himself during his confirmation process and included his wife Jennifer (a former Fox News producer with no Pentagon role), his brother Phil (a DHS liaison to the Pentagon), and his attorney Tim Parlatore (a Navy reservist assigned to Hegseth’s office).
Pentagon in “Total Chaos”
The fallout has plunged the Defense Department into turmoil. Last week, Hegseth abruptly fired three senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—amid a leak probe, though all three denied wrongdoing in a joint statement, calling the accusations “baseless”.
John Ullyot, Hegseth’s former press secretary who resigned last week, described the Pentagon as in “total chaos” in a scathing Politico op-ed, warning that “even bigger bombshells” may emerge soon 8. He criticized Hegseth’s leadership as a “major distraction” for President Trump, whose administration has aggressively pursued leakers—ironically, while defending Hegseth’s own breaches.
White House and Pentagon Push Back
The White House and Pentagon have dismissed the reports as politically motivated. Spokesperson Anna Kelly accused the media of “resurrecting the same non-story,” insisting no classified information was shared 6. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell echoed this, blaming “disgruntled former employees” and the “Trump-hating media” for the controversy.
But national security experts disagree. While Signal offers encryption, it lacks safeguards for classified material, and discussing military operations on personal devices violates protocol. Retired Colonel Jeff McCausland told CNN that such leaks could “endanger troops and compromise missions”.
Democrats Demand Resignation
Democratic leaders have seized on the scandal, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declaring, “We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. He must be fired” 6. Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, went further, calling Hegseth “a threat to national security”.
Even some Republicans are privately questioning Hegseth’s future. A Pentagon official told Reuters, “It’s hard to see how he survives this”.
A Pattern of Questionable Judgment
Hegseth’s tenure has been marred by controversy. His wife’s presence in high-level Pentagon meetings—despite her lack of security clearance—drew criticism earlier this year 6. Meanwhile, his aggressive leak investigations, including polygraph tests for staff, have fueled internal distrust.
The latest Signal revelations suggest a troubling pattern: whether through carelessness or arrogance, Hegseth has repeatedly failed to safeguard sensitive information. With U.S. forces engaged in Yemen, Israel-Iran tensions escalating, and a border troop surge underway, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What’s Next?
The Pentagon’s inspector general is now examining both Signal chats. If the probe confirms security violations, pressure for Hegseth’s ouster will grow—especially with Ullyot warning of more damaging disclosures ahead.
For now, the White House is standing by its defense chief. But as one former official put it, “This isn’t just about leaks—it’s about competence. And right now, the Pentagon looks anything but competent”
Sources:
- CNN: Hegseth shared detailed military plans in second Signal chat
- Reuters: Pentagon chief shared Yemen war plans in second Signal chat
- ABC News: 2nd Signal chat reveals Hegseth messaging about Yemen strikes
- The Guardian: Pentagon defiant over reports of second Signal group war chat
- Al Jazeera: US’s Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat
