U.S. Defence Secretary HEGSETH shared detailed military plans in second Signal chat that included his wife and brother, report says

Monday, April 21, 2025 - U.S. Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth shared detailed military plans regarding operations against the Houthis in Yemen in a private Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and lawyer - three people familiar with the chat tell CNN.

The chat, conducted on Hegseth’s personal phone, was originally set up during his contentious confirmation process to coordinate with close allies, but it remained active after his confirmation. The group included over a dozen individuals, some of whom did not hold security clearances, including his wife, Jennifer, who has also attended foreign leader meetings despite holding no official position.

The revelation has deepened concerns about Hegseth’s judgment amid a period of significant upheaval at the Pentagon. His former press secretary, John Ullyot, along with three recently fired senior officials—top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defence—have all raised alarms about the secretary’s leadership.

“It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon,” Ullyot said in a statement. “From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is a major distraction for the president, who deserves better from his senior leadership.”

The second Signal chat is separate from another group Hegseth used to communicate with Cabinet officials about military planning—currently under investigation by the Department of Defense Inspector General. Like the first, the second chat reportedly included sensitive information about planned military strikes against the Houthis.

While a Pentagon spokesperson claimed no classified information was shared, concerns remain about the involvement of non-cleared individuals, including Hegseth’s wife.

The disclosures follow a turbulent period marked by multiple firings, staff reshuffling, and a wave of internal investigations. Hegseth fired Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll last week and reassigned chief of staff Joe Kasper, who later resigned. Sources suggest the firings stem from escalating tensions and infighting within Hegseth’s office rather than the alleged leaks.

Concerns over information security escalated in March after a series of media reports about military plans for the Panama Canal and the Middle East, as well as a classified China briefing involving Elon Musk. Hegseth, rattled by the leaks, reportedly launched an internal probe with polygraph testing.

Despite Hegseth’s suspicion of leaks, Ullyot and the dismissed aides deny any wrongdoing. In a joint statement, they expressed disappointment at their abrupt termination, saying they “served the country honourably” and emphasised their commitment to information security.

“At this time, 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 stated

Ullyot further disputed the Pentagon’s justification for the firings, saying no polygraph tests were conducted, and at least one of the dismissed aides had been on the verge of being cleared by investigators.

The internal chaos comes at a critical time, as the Pentagon manages a large-scale military campaign in the Middle East, addresses tensions between Israel and Iran, and deploys troops and assets to the U.S. southern border.

"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," Ullyot said.

Despite growing criticism and concerns over his leadership, Hegseth has yet to publicly address the firings or the ongoing unrest within his department. Last week, he failed to appear for a scheduled event with France’s defence minister, sending an aide in his place.