Defense Secretary Faces Bipartisan Inquiry Over Wife’s Presence in Sensitive Meetings

Pete Hegseth’s inclusion of his wife, Jennifer, in high-level military discussions raises security concerns and intensifies scrutiny of his judgment.

Jennifer Hegseth attended two high-level meetings involving sensitive military discussions, including a NATO gathering in February and a March 6 meeting at the Pentagon with U.K. officials.
Her presence has drawn criticism from defense experts and officials, who noted such meetings typically require attendees to hold security clearances, which she reportedly does not have.
The Pentagon has expressed skepticism about the accuracy of reports detailing her involvement, but bipartisan calls for an inquiry into Pete Hegseth’s conduct have grown.
Pete Hegseth is also under fire for a prior Signal chat leak that exposed U.S. military plans to a journalist, further questioning his handling of classified information.
Some Pentagon officials reportedly question Hegseth’s judgment, with concerns about his ability to manage sensitive national security matters effectively.