WASHINGTON, April 21 — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny after reportedly sharing sensitive details of an American military strike on Yemen in a private Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
This revelation marks the second known instance of Hegseth using an unclassified messaging platform to discuss national security matters. It emerges at a volatile time within the Pentagon, following a wave of firings linked to an internal investigation into leaks.
Sensitive details shared in personal group chat
The second Signal chat, distinct from one previously reported by The Atlantic that mistakenly included editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, was said to have been created during Hegseth’s confirmation process. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the group originally served administrative purposes but later included discussions about airstrike schedules in Yemen targeting Iran-backed Houthi militants.
“The chat included details of the schedule of the air strikes,” the source said, adding that roughly a dozen individuals were part of the group.
Among them was Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer who has appeared at classified meetings with foreign military counterparts. In one instance captured in official Pentagon photographs, she was seen seated behind Hegseth during a March meeting with the UK Defense Secretary.
Also reportedly in the group was Hegseth’s brother, a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon.
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Mounting political backlash and internal unrest
The disclosures come as the Pentagon reels from recent internal upheaval. Dan Caldwell, one of Hegseth’s top advisers and a key figure in both Signal chats, was escorted out of the Pentagon last week amid the ongoing leak probe.
“We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended,” Caldwell posted on X. “Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door.”
Following Caldwell’s removal, two other officials — Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll — were placed on administrative leave and terminated on Friday. Selnick had recently become Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, while Carroll served as chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg.
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Partisan fallout and White House response
Democratic lawmakers are demanding Hegseth’s removal, accusing him of jeopardizing national security.
“We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. “But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth, a decorated Iraq War veteran, echoed the call for resignation: Hegseth “must resign in disgrace,” she said.
Despite the backlash, Hegseth retains the backing of the Trump administration. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the reports, saying without evidence that the media was “enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article.”
Parnell also stated on X:
“The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. … We’ve already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly doubled down, characterizing the leaks as an effort to sabotage the administration:
“Recently fired ‘leakers’ are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the President’s agenda.”
Ongoing questions about Hegseth’s judgment
As pressure mounts, Hegseth’s continued leadership at the Pentagon remains uncertain. A senior defense official, speaking anonymously, questioned how the Secretary could maintain his post in light of the latest disclosures.
The Pentagon has yet to formally address whether Hegseth’s actions violated any internal security protocols, but the use of an unsecured app to discuss operational details is likely to be a central focus of ongoing inquiries.
Hegseth, a vocal Trump ally and former Fox News personality, has aggressively championed anti-leak policies within the Department of Defense — a position that now appears to conflict with his own practices.
The situation continues to evolve as lawmakers, Pentagon officials, and administration figures navigate the fallout from what one defense analyst called “an extraordinary breach of basic operational discipline.”
