Chaos at the Top: Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon in Crisis Amid Leaks, Firings, and Questionable Judgment
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an unfolding crisis that has rattled the senior ranks of the U.S. Department of Defense, newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a firestorm of scrutiny following revelations that he shared sensitive military operational plans about strikes against the Houthis in Yemen through an unsecured Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation and first reported by The New York Times, the chat—conducted on Hegseth’s personal phone—continued even after he assumed the top post at the Pentagon and involved more than a dozen participants, some of whom do not hold security clearances.
This marks the second known Signal chat used by Hegseth to discuss classified military matters, both now under investigation by the Department of Defense’s acting Inspector General.
Turmoil Inside the Pentagon
The fallout from these disclosures has only deepened an already chaotic situation inside the Pentagon. Hegseth recently fired three top advisers—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—amid what the Pentagon originally framed as an internal leak investigation. However, insiders describe a toxic power struggle and a lack of clear direction at the highest levels of the department.
“It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon,” said John Ullyot, Hegseth’s former press secretary, who resigned last week and has since gone public with sharp criticism. “From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership.”
Ullyot’s statements were echoed in an op-ed he penned for Politico, in which he questioned the secretary’s leadership and decision-making at a time when the U.S. military is engaged in simultaneous high-stakes operations in the Middle East, at the southern border, and in global readiness posturing against China.
Signal Chats and Security Breaches
The existence of a second Signal chat raises new concerns about Hegseth’s handling of sensitive defense information. According to reporting by CNN, Hegseth used this group not only during his confirmation process but also throughout his early months in office. The participants included his wife Jennifer Hegseth—who has no government role but reportedly sat in on meetings with foreign leaders—his brother Phil Hegseth, and attorney Tim Parlatore, both of whom are employed at the Defense Department.
A Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, attempted to downplay the severity Sunday night, tweeting, “There was no classified information in any Signal chat.” But that statement has done little to tamp down the growing bipartisan concern over operational security and the chain of command.
The issue follows earlier embarrassment when a different Signal chat involving Cabinet officials was exposed after national security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly included a journalist from The Atlantic.
Leaks, Paranoia, and Infighting
According to sources inside the Pentagon, the Hegseth era has been marred by paranoia and internal warfare. After a series of damaging leaks about upcoming military actions in the Middle East, a classified briefing for Elon Musk, and planning for combatant command consolidation, Hegseth reportedly launched a full-scale leak investigation—complete with polygraph tests.
But none of the three fired officials, nor others accused of leaking, were ever subjected to polygraphs. In a joint statement, Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll expressed outrage over their treatment and denied any wrongdoing.
“Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks,” they wrote. “All three of us served our country honorably in uniform… We understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it.”
The statement goes on to say that the three former officials still don’t know what specific allegations led to their dismissal and whether any legitimate investigation even took place.
Hegseth Lashes Out, Avoids Press
Hegseth has not publicly addressed the firings, the security concerns, or the widening internal rift. Over the weekend, he broke his silence only to respond angrily on social media to calls for his resignation from the Democratic National Committee.
“Your agenda is illegals, trans & DEI — all of which are no longer allowed” at the Department of Defense, he tweeted from his personal account.
Since the controversy erupted, Hegseth has avoided the press. Last Thursday, he failed to appear at a scheduled photo op with the visiting French defense minister, sending a subordinate in his place.
Mounting Political Pressure
The Pentagon’s dysfunction comes at a perilous time for the administration. President Trump, in his second non-consecutive term, is under increasing pressure to demonstrate competence on national defense. The U.S. is ramping up deployments in response to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, all while carrying out precision strikes against Houthi rebels who continue to threaten international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
“There’s no way to spin this,” said a senior GOP official who spoke on background. “Even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it’s becoming a real problem for the administration.”
As the investigations continue and former aides prepare to testify to the inspector general, all eyes are now on whether President Trump will continue to back Hegseth—or if the embattled Defense Secretary’s tenure is becoming too much of a liability.
Until then, America’s military leadership appears to be consumed not by strategy, but by damage control.
