Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under scrutiny again after it was revealed he shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat.
This chat featured an unusual list of participants, including his wife, lawyer, and brother, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The revelation comes amid growing concerns over Hegseth’s judgment from close advisers and a series of high-profile firings last week.
The group chat was initiated during Hegseth’s confirmation hearing process, primarily as a strategy session for his closest allies. However, after his confirmation, Hegseth continued using the chat, which consisted of more than a dozen people.
This revelation surfaces as Hegseth’s closest advisers raise concerns about his judgment. These include his former press secretary, John Ullyot, and three senior officials Hegseth dismissed last week—his top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense.
Ullyot said in a statement obtained by CNN, “It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president—who deserves better from his senior leadership.”
The second Signal chat is an addition to an earlier one used by Hegseth to communicate with Cabinet officials last month about military plans. The Defense Department’s acting inspector general is currently investigating that chat.
In both chats, Hegseth discussed military plans concerning strikes against the Houthis. Two people in the chat group have positions at the Department of Defense – Hegseth’s brother Phil and his lawyer Tim Parlatore. His wife Jennifer, however, does not have a role at the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, tweeted on Sunday night that “there was no classified information in any Signal chat.”
This follows a period of turmoil at the Defense Department after Hegseth fired Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll and reassigned his chief of staff, Joe Kasper.
Last week’s chaos at the Pentagon was reportedly caused by a leak investigation. But sources say these firings are just part of the dysfunction that has hit Hegseth’s office over the last five weeks. This internal strife involved Kasper, Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll. Kasper resigned from his role last week, though he may still be reassigned elsewhere in the Pentagon.
A series of leaks related to military planning for the Panama Canal and the Middle East, and a classified China briefing for Elon Musk at the Pentagon had deeply unsettled Hegseth by mid-March. As a result, he and Kasper launched a leak probe, which included polygraph tests.
The trio fired by Hegseth – Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll – expect to be interviewed as part of the ongoing inspector general investigation into Hegseth. They have expressed their disappointment with how their service at the Department of Defense ended and have denied leaking information.
Ullyot also denied that Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll were fired for leaking sensitive information. He said, “Not one of three has been given a lie detector test.”
The ongoing turmoil raises further concerns about Hegseth’s judgment and priorities among current and former officials. This comes at a time when the Pentagon is executing a major military operation in the Middle East against the Houthis.
The recent developments surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have significant implications for his reputation and the functioning of the Department of Defense. Hegseth’s decision to share sensitive military information on a chat platform that included non-military personnel raises serious questions about his judgment and handling of classified information.
These concerns are further magnified by the recent upheaval in his office, marked by a series of high-profile firings and an ongoing leak investigation. These events have caused turmoil within the Pentagon at a crucial time when it is overseeing a major military operation in the Middle East against the Houthis.
Moreover, these developments could also have political consequences. The chaos at the Pentagon has been described as a major distraction for the president, who is now facing questions about his choice of senior leadership. The fact that such turmoil is unfolding in a key department during a period of heightened international tensions could potentially undermine confidence in the administration’s ability to handle national security issues effectively.
Furthermore, Hegseth is currently under investigation by the inspector general, which could lead to more revelations that might affect his standing and further destabilize the Department of Defense.
Therefore, these events not only highlight concerns over Hegseth’s judgment but also underline broader issues of leadership and information security within the Department of Defense. The outcome of this situation could have far-reaching implications, not only for Hegseth and his team but also for the administration’s handling of defense matters and national security.
