US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Accused of Sharing Yemen Airstrike Details in Private Signal Group
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire after reportedly sharing sensitive details about upcoming airstrikes in Yemen through a private Signal chat, according to reports from The New York Times and CNN. The group allegedly included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
Although AFP has not confirmed the reports independently, this marks the second instance Hegseth has been linked to disclosing sensitive military information via the encrypted messaging app to unauthorized individuals.
Last month, The Atlantic revealed that Hegseth, along with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, had unintentionally included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a separate Signal chat. That group reportedly discussed the March 15 airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking significant backlash and triggering a Pentagon investigation, which remains ongoing.
The latest allegations indicate Hegseth shared specifics in another Signal group—this time created by him—which also centered around the March 15 strikes. According to The Times, the group received detailed information, including flight schedules of F/A-18 Hornets deployed for the operation.
This second group chat reportedly began in January before Hegseth’s official confirmation as defense secretary. It included individuals from his personal and professional circles, such as his wife Jennifer (a journalist and former Fox News producer), his brother Phil, and attorney Tim Parlatore, who serves dual roles as both a Pentagon official and Hegseth’s personal legal counsel.
In response, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the claims, accusing The New York Times of bias and asserting that no classified material was shared in any Signal chat. He did not provide specific clarifications regarding the contents of the group conversations.
An anonymous source told Reuters that the group chat, created during Hegseth’s confirmation process, was intended for administrative coordination but did contain details about the timing of airstrikes.
Meanwhile, former staffers and critics within Hegseth’s camp have begun speaking out. Three top Pentagon aides—Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll—were recently placed on leave amid broader leak investigations. On Sunday, they issued a public statement defending their integrity and questioning the legitimacy of the investigation.
Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot also weighed in, describing the situation as “a month of total chaos at the Pentagon.” He questioned how much longer Hegseth could remain in his role.
President Trump has thus far declined to dismiss Hegseth or others directly involved, instead emphasizing the tactical success of the Yemen strikes. However, Democratic lawmakers are now demanding further scrutiny. Senator Jack Reed, a top member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for the new allegations to be added to the ongoing probe.
“If confirmed, this would show a serious lack of judgment and a disregard for rules that every service member is expected to uphold,” Reed said.
