Pentagon has been rocked by a series of troubling revelations involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, particularly regarding his handling of sensitive military information. According to reports from CNN and other outlets, Hegseth shared detailed plans for military operations against the Houthis in Yemen via a private Signal chat group. This chat group, set up during Hegseth’s confirmation process, reportedly included his wife, lawyer, and brother—none of whom appear to have the necessary security clearance to access such information.
The disclosure of this chat is the second such instance involving Hegseth’s use of Signal to communicate military plans, raising serious concerns over information security and judgment within the Pentagon. The revelation has drawn attention to Hegseth’s questionable decision-making and highlighted significant dysfunction within his office. In addition to unauthorized sharing of military plans, Hegseth has faced scrutiny for firing several key officials and reassigning others, creating an environment of instability and uncertainty.
Among those dismissed were 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. The firings came after internal infighting, with sources claiming that Hegseth’s office had become engulfed in chaos due to personnel issues and ongoing leak investigations.
Sources close to the situation have described the turmoil at the Pentagon as a major distraction, noting that the focus has shifted away from essential military operations, including an ongoing campaign in the Middle East, to internal drama. Former officials, including Hegseth’s former press secretary, John Ullyot, have expressed their concern, accusing Hegseth’s team of spreading falsehoods about the dismissed officials. Ullyot, who resigned from his post just weeks ago, stated that despite claims of a leak investigation, no polygraph tests were conducted on the fired individuals, and at least one of them had been informed that they were about to be cleared of any wrongdoing. Ullyot also pointed out that the chaos had become a significant problem for the administration, with even Hegseth’s supporters acknowledging that the past month had been a “meltdown” at the Pentagon.
Read Also: Iran Rejects US Nuclear Talks Proposal as Tensions Escalate
In addition to the issues surrounding the leaks and firings, Hegseth’s handling of his communications with Cabinet officials has come under scrutiny. The first Signal chat, which included communications with national security officials, is currently under investigation by the Department of Defense’s acting inspector general. Hegseth’s team launched a leak investigation, even going so far as to initiate polygraph tests, but many in the department remain unconvinced that the investigation was handled properly or that it effectively addressed the root causes of the leaks.
With Hegseth continuing to avoid press interactions and refusing to address the growing concerns within his office, it remains unclear how the Defense Secretary will regain control over the situation. The dysfunction at the Pentagon is now a pressing issue not just for Hegseth but for the entire administration, as national security efforts are increasingly sidelined by internal turmoil and a breakdown of leadership.
