US Defense Secretary Hegseth under fire for sharing Yemen strike plans in second Signal chat as Pentagon turmoil grows

Leaked Yemen war plans put Pentagon chief Hegseth in hot water

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting criticism and calls for resignation after it was revealed he shared sensitive details about a March military strike on Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels via an unclassified Signal messaging group that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, according to a source familiar with the matter.

This disclosure marks the second instance of Hegseth using unsecured communication platforms to discuss classified or sensitive military operations. The earlier incident, reported last month by The Atlantic, involved a mistaken inclusion of its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a separate Signal group that involved some of President Donald Trump‘s most senior national security officials.

According to the source, the second Signal chat, created during Hegseth’s confirmation process, included around a dozen people and was initially meant to discuss administrative issues. However, it allegedly contained detailed scheduling information for airstrikes on Yemen.

Private circles in sensitive briefings

Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer, has been present during sensitive meetings with foreign military officials, including a March meeting with Hegseth’s British counterpart. Pentagon-released photos show her seated behind the Defense Secretary. Meanwhile, his brother, who serves as a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon, was also part of the chat group.

These revelations have surfaced during a delicate time for Hegseth, as the Pentagon reels from a string of internal leaks. Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth and reportedly the point person in the first Signal chat, was escorted out of the Pentagon last week. Following Caldwell’s exit, Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, were also put on administrative leave and fired.

Political fallout

The controversy has prompted Democratic lawmakers to demand Hegseth’s immediate removal.
“We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. “But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, echoed the sentiment, stating Hegseth “must resign in disgrace.”

A senior Pentagon official questioned how Hegseth could continue in his role amid the deepening scandal.

Defiant defense from the Trump administration

The Trump White House and Pentagon remain defiant.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the reports, stating: “The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly accused recently fired employees of “misrepresenting the truth to soothe their shattered egos.”

Meanwhile, on Fox & Friends Weekend, US Special Envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, confirmed that NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table, suggesting the administration remains focused on global stability amid domestic controversies.

The ongoing scrutiny places Hegseth at the center of a growing internal crisis at the Department of Defense, where issues of classified information leaks, unauthorized access, and improper communication practices are now under full spotlight.

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