Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under formal Inspector General investigation for sharing sensitive military plans on Signal, including with unauthorized individuals.
• The Pentagon is grappling with significant staffing gaps following the resignation of Chief of Staff Joe Kasper and the firing of two senior aides implicated in leak investigations.
• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has criticized Hegseth's leadership, describing the situation as 'chaos' and citing his lack of qualifications for the role.
• National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and President Trump have defended Hegseth, dismissing reports of dysfunction as media-driven narratives while emphasizing a focus on 'lethality and accountability.'
• The Senate Armed Services Committee continues its bipartisan inquiry into the leaks, with lawmakers pressing for recommendations to address operational security concerns.