Overview

• The White House has reportedly begun vetting potential replacements for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following revelations of a second Signal chat where he shared sensitive Yemen strike plans with family members.
• Hegseth is under investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general for potentially disclosing classified information in two Signal group chats, one of which mistakenly included a journalist.
• President Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, dismissing the reports as 'fake news' and blaming 'disgruntled employees' for the leaks, while expressing no immediate plans to remove him.
• Three senior Pentagon aides were dismissed last week as part of a leak investigation initiated by Hegseth’s chief of staff, who has since been reassigned within the Defense Department.
• Concerns are mounting among Senate Republicans, with some expressing regret over Hegseth’s confirmation and questioning his leadership following the security breaches and internal turmoil.