Pentagon chief Hegseth shared Yemen war plans in second Signal chat
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing scrutiny after reportedly disclosing sensitive details about a military strike in Yemen to a private messaging group, marking the second known leak.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the East Room of the White House, April 15, 2025, in Washington (AP/Alex Brandon)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed information about a March military strike on Yemen’s Ansar Allah in a private messaging group that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday.
This marks the second known instance of Hegseth using an unclassified Signal messaging thread to communicate sensitive national security information. The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny, as several senior Pentagon officials were removed last week during an internal probe into leaks.
The Trump administration has taken a hard stance against unauthorized disclosures, a position Hegseth has strongly supported. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, without offering evidence, stated that "the Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump's agenda. ...We've already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down."
In this second chat, Hegseth reportedly discussed details of the strike that closely mirrored information previously published by The Atlantic. That publication’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been allegedly "mistakenly added" to a separate Signal thread, revealing classified conversations among top national security officials in the Trump administration.
According to the anonymous source, the chat included around a dozen participants and was initially formed during Hegseth’s confirmation process, primarily to manage administrative tasks rather than operational planning. However, the group also received updates about the air strike schedule, the source added.
Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has also been present at classified meetings with foreign military representatives, as seen in Pentagon-released images. She was also spotted behind Hegseth during a March meeting with his British counterpart at the Pentagon. Hegseth’s brother currently serves as a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon.
White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly also criticized former officials, saying, "Recently fired ‘leakers’ are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the President’s agenda."
Growing pressure on Hegseth
Democratic leaders have demanded Hegseth’s 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."
The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2025
Pete Hegseth must be fired.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran injured in combat, echoed those calls, stating Hegseth "must resign in disgrace."
A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned how Hegseth could remain in his role following these developments.
The new revelations follow the recent departure of Dan Caldwell, a close advisor to Hegseth, who was removed from the Pentagon as part of the ongoing leak investigation. Caldwell had been identified in the first Signal chat as Hegseth’s main liaison at the Department of Defense.
"We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended," Caldwell posted on X. "Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door."
In the aftermath, two additional officials, namely, Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, were placed on administrative leave and terminated on Friday.
The firings come after Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an inquiry into unauthorized disclosures of national security information. In March, Kasper stated that any individuals found responsible should be referred to law enforcement for possible criminal prosecution.
However, the officials say they were not given details about any investigation into the alleged Pentagon leak, nor were they formally accused. “Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door,” they added, calling the experience “unconscionable.”
