Pentagon Under Scrutiny as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Faces Mounting Controversies
Washington, D.C. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under intense scrutiny following a series of controversies that have raised questions about his leadership and handling of sensitive military information.
The Pentagon’s internal watchdog has launched a formal investigation into whether Hegseth’s aides were instructed to delete Signal messages that may have contained sensitive details about U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The probe centers on allegations that Hegseth shared operational information in multiple Signal chats, one of which inadvertently included a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Another chat reportedly included his wife and brother, as well as senior Trump administration officials.
The inspector general’s inquiry is examining whether Hegseth and his staff followed Pentagon protocols regarding the use of commercial messaging apps for official communications and whether any classified or sensitive information was improperly disclosed. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern that sharing details about military strikes before they occurred could have endangered U.S. pilots and compromised operations. Hegseth has denied sharing classified information, insisting that “nobody is texting war plans,” but military officials and critics argue that the level of specificity was inappropriate for unsecured channels.
Compounding the turmoil, several senior aides have been placed on leave or fired amid internal investigations into information leaks, leaving Hegseth’s leadership team depleted. Reports indicate that nearly a dozen senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have also been removed since Hegseth took office, fueling perceptions of instability within the Department of Defense.
Hegseth has also faced backlash for policy decisions, including the controversial deployment of Marines to Los Angeles to support immigration enforcement efforts. California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly condemned the move as “deranged.” Additionally, Hegseth’s review of equal opportunity programs—part of his “no more walking on eggshells” policy—has sparked concern among female service members and advocates who fear it may undermine progress on harassment and discrimination issues. His termination of the Women, Peace & Security program, a bipartisan initiative signed into law in 2017, has further intensified criticism, with detractors accusing him of targeting so-called “woke” policies.
Despite the mounting controversies, Hegseth continues to enjoy the support of former President Donald Trump, who praised his leadership following recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. However, dissent within the Pentagon is growing, and some lawmakers, including Representative Don Bacon, have called for Hegseth’s removal, citing ongoing turmoil and concerns over national security.
As the Pentagon’s inspector general continues its investigation, Hegseth is scheduled to testify before Congress next week, where he is expected to face tough questions about his conduct, decision-making, and the broader state of the Department of Defense.