Defense Secretary Faces Criticism Over Recent Security Protocol Concerns
In the wake of mounting criticism surrounding the recent Signal chat controversy, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is now facing additional scrutiny for reportedly bringing his wife, Jennifer, to two high-level meetings with foreign military counterparts.
According to sources familiar with these meetings who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer, was present at discussions where sensitive military information was shared with allies.
Jennifer Hegseth’s presence at high-level security meetings
One of these meetings was a high-level discussion at the Pentagon on March 6 between Secretary Hegseth and his UK counterpart John Healey. This meeting occurred just one day after the United States announced it had suspended military intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Admiral Tony Radakin, head of the UK’s armed forces, was present at this meeting. The two sides reportedly discussed Washington’s rationale behind its decision to limit intelligence sharing, as well as future military collaboration between the US and UK.
According to the WSJ report, Jennifer Hegseth was seated behind her husband during this sensitive discussion.
She was also reportedly present at a separate meeting last month at NATO headquarters in Brussels. This meeting took place alongside a February conference of NATO defense ministers, which included gatherings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and a US-led forum of approximately 50 nations that coordinates weapons production and delivery of aid to Ukraine.
Protocol questions emerge
Pentagon protocols typically limit attendance to officials with appropriate security clearances at sensitive meetings. While secretaries can invite guests to meetings with foreign counterparts, attendee lists are usually restricted to those with a need to be present, given the classified nature of these discussions.
“A Pentagon spokesperson refused to confirm whether Hegseth’s wife has the necessary security clearances,” the WSJ reported.
Some foreign attendees at the meetings were reportedly unaware of Jennifer Hegseth’s identity, while others expressed surprise at her presence but did not raise the issue with officials.
This controversy comes amid broader concerns about Hegseth’s handling of sensitive information following the Signal chat leak incident, with members of Congress from both Democratic and Republican parties raising questions about security protocols under his leadership.