In Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces allegations regarding the mishandling of classified information yet again. He is accused of transmitting sensitive airstrike details from a secured military network into a Signal chat involving his family and associates. This network, managed by U.S. Central Command, is said to have been the source of secure information, including launch times for airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen—data that officials describe as severely classified. A knowledgeable individual confirmed the details to the press, under the promise of anonymity, due to concerns of retaliatory actions.
Reports indicate the leaked information matched sensitive details previously disclosed in another Signal chat involving key national security figures under President Donald Trump. Notably, that initial chat inadvertently included the editor of The Atlantic, prompting an official investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector general.
Hegseth remains elusive on confirming the establishment of this second chat group, which purportedly included over a dozen individuals like his spouse, legal counsel, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who serves as a senior liaison at the Pentagon for Homeland Security. Instead, Hegseth attributes the leaks to dissatisfied former staff members. He steadfastly denies the allegations of sharing classified content, insisting that the communications were informal and related to media coordination. Despite this, Signal’s encrypted platform lacks approval for transmitting classified information.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta labeled the breach as significant, asserting that such precise details would inevitably be classified. Panetta, who held office during the Obama era, emphasized the rarity and severity of a Defense Secretary committing such security oversights, especially concerning details vital for defensive operations.
The controversy arises amidst organizational turbulence within Hegseth’s inner circle, which has reportedly become increasingly insular. Recently, a series of firings and transfers have occurred, including notable figures like Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll. Their abrupt removal follows efforts to trace internal leaks, with Hegseth voicing sharp criticism toward former colleagues he believes attempted to undermine the administration.
The tension extends beyond the civilian administration, as several high-ranking military figures, including General CQ Brown Jr., have been dismissed within the past quarter. Current military personnel express a decline in morale and a prevailing sense of uncertainty under Hegseth’s leadership. Some officers cite these issues as pivotal in their decision to leave the service, overburdening the systems processing retirement requests due to the surge of experienced personnel opting for retirement.
In the broader context, former service officials and Panetta himself suggest that the Pentagon has never experienced such turmoil. They relayed concerns over the long-term implications of these upheavals on the department’s efficacy. Hegseth, seemingly absorbed in managing these crises, announced shifts within the department, including transitions of key roles held by Joe Kasper and Sean Parnell, while former spokesman John Ullyot’s resignation, allegedly unrelated to these leaks, has been highlighted by the Pentagon.