Pete Hegseth accused of leaking US air strike plans on Yemen via Signal chat

Hegseth shared F/A-18 mission details with inner circle ahead of Yemen strikes, raising fresh concerns over national security.

Fuel vans burn following U.S. airstrikes on the Ras Isa port complex on April 18, 2025, in Hudaydah governorate, Yemen. (c) HMC/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a fresh wave of controversy after reports surfaced that he privately shared details about upcoming U.S. air strikes on Yemen through a Signal messaging group with unauthorized recipients, including his wife, brother, and personal attorney. The alleged breach of sensitive military operations, reported by The New York Times and CNN on Sunday, marks the second time Hegseth has been linked to a potential leak involving the March 15 strikes targeting Houthi militants.

Hegseth Signal leak has once again thrust the Pentagon into a national security scandal. Sources cited by the Times claim the Signal group chat—distinct from a previous accidental leak involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg—was established by Hegseth himself in January, before he was officially confirmed as defense secretary.

Information allegedly included strike schedules

According to The New York Times, the group chat included not just personal acquaintances but also key figures in Hegseth’s inner circle, such as his wife Jennifer Hegseth—a former Fox News producer—his brother Phil Hegseth, and attorney Tim Parlatore, who also holds an official Pentagon role while continuing to serve as Hegseth’s personal legal counsel.

The shared information reportedly included flight schedules of F/A-18 Hornets en route to conduct precision strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This alleged revelation comes in the wake of a prior leak that has already triggered a Pentagon Inspector-General investigation.

That earlier incident, disclosed by The Atlantic, occurred when its editor-in-chief was mistakenly added to a separate Signal chat where officials, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, discussed the same March 15 operations.

Pentagon response and growing backlash

Despite the gravity of the new reports, the Pentagon has yet to issue a detailed response regarding the latest Hegseth Signal leak. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell downplayed the allegations, accusing The New York Times of being a “Trump-hating media outlet” and asserting that no classified material was disclosed in the Signal exchanges.

However, the lack of transparency has only fueled further speculation, especially as three top Pentagon officials—Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll—were placed on administrative leave this week. Though the Pentagon has not confirmed a connection between their suspension and the ongoing leaks probe, the trio released a joint statement defending their reputations.

“We still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of 'leaks' to begin with,” they wrote. “While this experience has been unconscionable, we remain supportive of the Trump-Vance administration’s mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength.”

Calls for accountability mount

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth’s former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot issued a stinging rebuke on Sunday, characterizing the situation as “a month of total chaos” at the Department of Defense. Ullyot suggested that President Donald Trump, known for his no-nonsense management style, would not tolerate repeated breaches of discipline within his administration.

“Given that, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer,” Ullyot wrote in an opinion column.

Congressional Democrats have seized on the opportunity to scrutinize the administration's handling of classified information. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for the Pentagon Inspector-General to include the latest Hegseth Signal leak in its current investigation.

“If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth’s reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow,” Reed said in a statement Sunday afternoon.

Internal tensions within the Trump administration

While President Trump has largely deflected blame for the first leak onto National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, he has publicly stood by Hegseth. Yet mounting internal pressure and growing calls for accountability are testing that support. Behind the scenes, sources report tension between top national security aides and Trump’s inner circle over the growing perception of disorganization at the Pentagon.

Critics argue that allowing top officials to operate casual communications networks that include family members and personal legal counsel poses a serious risk to operational integrity. Although no formal charges have been filed against Hegseth, the pattern of behavior is drawing increasing scrutiny from lawmakers, military ethics experts, and the media alike.

Previous leak and damage control efforts

The earlier Signal chat that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg had already drawn sharp criticism from analysts and watchdogs concerned about national security. In that instance, officials reportedly did not immediately realize that Goldberg had been included in the encrypted discussion, which also involved Hegseth and Waltz.

While Goldberg did not publish details from the chat, the incident itself raised alarms about the administration’s casual handling of sensitive data. The Pentagon Inspector-General’s office is still conducting a full investigation into the events surrounding that breach.

Escalating risk amid Middle East tensions

The leaks come at a critical time for U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The March 15 strikes on Yemen were part of a broader strategy to curb Iran-backed Houthi advances and protect international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Pentagon officials have said the strikes were successful, but any compromise in operational secrecy could jeopardize future missions.

Experts warn that repeated leaks—accidental or otherwise—could embolden adversaries, undermine allied trust, and diminish the effectiveness of U.S. military engagements in volatile regions.

Trump administration under renewed scrutiny

As the Hegseth Signal leak story continues to unfold, questions are swirling around whether the Trump administration will take decisive disciplinary action. The White House has so far avoided direct comment on the most recent allegations, leaving the defense secretary’s future uncertain.

Still, the mounting evidence and internal dissent may leave President Trump with little choice but to act. Whether through resignation, removal, or further investigation, Hegseth’s handling of classified information appears likely to dominate national security discussions in the coming weeks.

As one former senior defense official noted privately, “Leaks happen, but patterns raise red flags. And the pattern here is unmistakable.”