Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified information about a military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants with his wife and brother, as well as 12 other top Trump administration leaders in a second private chat on the messaging app Signal. The revelation sparked new calls for Hegseth to be ousted as the administration faces criticism for failing to take action against national security officials who discussed sensitive plans.
Hegseth’s first chat, set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included Cabinet members and came to light when a journalist was added to the group. The contents of both chats have raised concerns that sharing classified information could put pilots in danger.
The second Signal chat, dubbed “Defense ‘ Team Huddle,'” includes similar details about the March military strike against Yemen’s Houthi militants as the first chat. Multiple former and current officials said sharing such operational details before a strike would have been classified.
Hegseth has previously denied sharing any classified information in the chats, but the new revelations are under investigation by the Defense Department’s acting inspector general at the request of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The committee’s chairman and ranking member expressed grave concerns about Hegseth’s ability to maintain trust and confidence among U.S. servicemembers and the Commander-in-Chief.
As turmoil continues at the Pentagon, four officials in Hegseth’s inner circle departed last week amid an investigation into information leaks. The developments raise questions about the administration’s handling of sensitive information and its commitment to national security.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b