Overview

• Pete Hegseth is accused of sharing classified Yemen strike plans via Signal chats with unauthorized participants, including family members, violating Pentagon security protocols.
• The Pentagon Inspector General launched an investigation on April 3 following Senate demands after the first Signal leak in March exposed sensitive information to a journalist.
• Reports reveal a second Signal chat group created by Hegseth, further intensifying scrutiny and prompting bipartisan criticism from lawmakers like Chuck Schumer and Don Bacon.
• Hegseth has dismissed the allegations as part of a smear campaign by disgruntled former Pentagon staff, while President Trump continues to publicly defend him.
• Insiders report chaos within the Pentagon, with Hegseth having replaced much of his leadership team, and speculation grows that the White House is quietly searching for his replacement.