Hegseth overhauls Pentagon watchdog amid own probe
3 Min Read
Politico argues that Hegseth's new rules could mean fewer whistleblowers coming forward and fewer investigations into potential misconduct at the Pentagon.
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US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025 in Quantico, Virginia (Pool via AP)
A new report by Politico reveals US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's controversial changes to the Pentagon's Inspector General operations, implemented as investigators finalize a report on his own conduct.
The Inspector General is currently finalizing a report examining Hegseth's handling of sensitive military information. The investigation centers on his release of classified details about Yemen military strikes through a Signal group chat, an incident that's become known as "Signalgate".
Hegseth announced several new requirements for the IG office during a Tuesday speech to military leaders. The changes include a strict seven-day deadline for processing complaints, mandatory bimonthly updates on ongoing investigations, and a higher standard of proof before cases can move forward. Complaints must now show "credible evidence" from the outset, and those deemed frivolous or false will face penalties.
Hegseth defended the overhaul by claiming the watchdog office "has been weaponized" and citing inefficient policies that needed reform.
Why it matters
Former Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch, who was fired by Trump in January along with other independent watchdogs, told Politico that whistleblowers provide "critically important information" in a department as large as Defense. He emphasized that frontline personnel need to feel safe coming forward when they spot problems.
Critics worry the new rules will have the opposite effect. The tight seven-day processing window could force investigators to reject cases that need more time to develop. Dan Meyer, a former Pentagon IG official, explained to Politico that major problems often emerge from complaints that initially arrive as just a few sentences in an email, cases that might now be dismissed immediately.
Missing evidence of abuse
Advocates from Protect Our Defenders questioned whether complaint abuse is actually a problem worth solving. A Defense Department report on sexual assault cases found that only 1 percent of complaints in 2024 were deemed unfounded or false, Politico noted.
About one-third lacked sufficient evidence to proceed, but that's a far cry from the widespread frivolous reporting Hegseth's changes seem designed to address.
Nancy Parrish, the organization's CEO, called it "a new paradigm shift of blaming the accuser, not the accused."
Congressional concerns
The moves could create friction with lawmakers who regularly request IG investigations for oversight purposes. The probe into Hegseth's Signal use came at the bipartisan request of Senate Armed Services Committee leaders.
US Senator Jack Reed said on Friday that the administration's broader effort to limit inspectors general serves a purpose: "When you're trying to ignore the law, circumvent the law, it helps not to have anybody watching you."
It remains unclear when or if the report on Hegseth's Signal incident will be made public, or whether the new rules will affect that investigation. What is clear, according to a defense official cited by Politico, is that the changes reflect "a hostility to a complex process" and could paradoxically increase bureaucratic headaches while reducing the number of investigations the IG office can pursue.
Hegseth's new rules could mean fewer whistleblowers coming forward and fewer investigations into potential misconduct at the Pentagon.
