No plans to replace Pentagon chief Hegseth, White House says
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The White House denied a report by NPR claiming that the White House is considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after reports revealed Hegseth disclosed military information on Signal.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington (AP)
The White House denied reports that the Trump administration is considering replacing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth following allegations that he shared attack plans on Yemen's Ansar Allah in a second Signal group chat.
Earlier in the day, NPR reported, citing an unnamed official, that the administration had started looking for a new Pentagon chief.
"This NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who has no idea what they are talking about," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced on X, reiterating that US President Donald Trump stands firmly behind the Pentagon chief.
This comes after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details about a March military strike on Yemen’s Ansar Allah in a private messaging group with his wife, brother, and personal attorney, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday.
An unnamed source revealed that roughly a dozen people were part of the chat, which was created during Hegseth’s confirmation to handle logistical matters but later included updates on strike timelines.
This marks the second known instance of Hegseth sharing sensitive national security information through an unclassified Signal messaging thread, as the disclosure emerges amid heightened scrutiny following last week's removal of several senior Pentagon officials during an internal leak investigation.
The incident has also prompted an investigation by the Department of Defense's Office of Inspector General.​
Ex-Pentagon spox warns of chaos under Hegseth
Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who recently stepped down, sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, warning that the Department of Defense is descending into what he called a "total chaos."
In a Politico op-ed, Ullyot warned of rampant dysfunction, backstabbing, and mismanagement under Hegseth's watch, stating "the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership" and calling the turmoil a growing distraction for the president who "deserves better from his senior leadership."
Ullyot left his position soon after three high-ranking Pentagon officials were fired on April 20: Senior Advisor Dan Caldwell, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary, while arguing these terminations resulted from unfounded accusations of leaking classified information.
The dismissals follow a demand by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, for an investigation into leaks of classified material, after Kasper declared in March that those implicated should face potential legal consequences
The officials claim they received no specifics about the purported leak probe or formal allegations, stating that "unnamed Pentagon officials slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out," while denouncing the ordeal as "unconscionable."
