Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother, where he allegedly shared sensitive details about a March military airstrike targeting Yemen’s Houthi militants. These details were previously shared in a separate communication with senior Trump administration leaders. The existence of this second chat has been confirmed by an anonymous source familiar with its contents and recipients.
The Signal app, while commercially available, is not authorized for sharing sensitive or classified national defense information. The second chat group, reportedly titled “Defense ‘ Team Huddle,” included 13 participants. Among them were Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, and his brother Phil Hegseth, who serves as a liaison and senior adviser within the Pentagon.
In response to the reports, both the White House and the Pentagon have dismissed the claims as false, attributing them to disgruntled former employees. Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary, emphasized that no classified information was shared through Signal. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the allegations stem from individuals with a motive to undermine the administration.
Despite these denials, the revelation of the additional chat group has intensified calls for Hegseth’s removal, with criticisms directed toward the Trump administration for its perceived inaction. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly called for Hegseth’s dismissal, expressing concern over the potential risks posed by his actions. The initial chat, organized by national security adviser Mike Waltz, included several Cabinet members and was exposed after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to the group.
The information shared in these chats reportedly included details about weapons systems and the timeline for an attack on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, which military experts assert would have been classified. As a result, there is an ongoing investigation by the Defense Department’s acting inspector general, prompted by Senate Armed Services Committee leaders.
Senator Jack Reed has urged a thorough investigation into the second chat as well, questioning Hegseth’s judgment and the potential threat to U.S. servicemembers’ safety. This development occurs amid broader turmoil within the Pentagon, highlighted by the departure of four officials from Hegseth’s team, who were implicated in the investigation of information leaks.
Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick were recently escorted out of the Pentagon as part of this inquiry. Although initially placed on leave, they have stated they remain uncertain about the specifics of the investigation. Meanwhile, former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot has resigned, though this decision is reportedly unrelated to the leaks.