WEBDESK: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing serious backlash after reportedly sharing confidential military strike details in a private Signal chat that included his brother, his wife, and his lawyer. The leaked information was related to a March 15 airstrike in Yemen, carried out by U.S. forces against Houthi militants.
According to U.S. media reports, Pete Hegseth disclosed the classified details in a group chat named “Defense Team Huddle,” which included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The group reportedly discussed specifics such as flight schedules of F/A-18 fighter jets and operational planning – information that is usually tightly guarded.
This isn’t the first time Pete Hegseth has been under scrutiny for sharing sensitive data. Earlier, he accidentally included a journalist, Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, in a Signal group chat about the same airstrike. These repeated lapses have raised concerns about how top-level military secrets are being handled under his leadership.
Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer, and his brother, Phil Hegseth, a Department of Homeland Security adviser, were both members of the chat. His personal attorney, Timothy Parlatore, was also included.
The Pentagon’s acting inspector general, Steven Stebbins, announced an official review of the Defense Secretary’s use of commercial messaging apps, citing concerns over policy compliance.
Critics, including Hegseth’s former press secretary John Ullyot, describe the situation as a “full-blown meltdown,” further straining confidence in Hegseth’s leadership during a volatile period for national defense operations. The Department of Defense has not issued a public response.
“President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it’s hard to see Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer,” wrote Ullyot.
Read more: ‘Clowns’: Trump officials accidentally add journalist to secret war plan chat group
