U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is under renewed fire after sharing an sensitive military report via private Signal chat group, in what has now become two known instances over recent months. Such sharing raises concerns among lawmakers, defense analysts, and national security officials who all worry that classified or sensitive information has been improperly distributed to outside sources.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the shared document included strategic assessments related to ongoing overseas military operations. While its full contents have yet to be made public, officials have confirmed that it had been marked “sensitive but unclassified” and therefore not meant for distribution outside secure government channels.
The Signal chat, comprised of senior advisors, political allies, and some former military personnel is not officially sanctioned by the Department of Defense and critics argue it undermines operational security while exposing vulnerabilities within internal information protocols.
This incident mirrors an earlier instance this year, in which Hegseth was warned for sharing preliminary defense data related to Indo-Pacific troop movements with reporters and bloggers. At that time, Hegseth dismissed any concerns by asserting the information “posed no security risk” and was shared “in a secure environment.”
However, the latest breach has led to demands for an internal investigation. Senator Mark Warner of the Senate Intelligence Committee demanded “an in-depth probe” of senior defense officials handling sensitive data; and demanded accountability at all levels in order to protect national security institutions.
Insider reports indicate that senior officials in the Pentagon are currently conducting an internal review to ascertain if Hegseth violated any established communication protocols or federal regulations.
Pete Hegseth, an Army National Guard officer and television personality, was appointed Secretary of Defense amid widespread controversy due to his outspoken political views and limited experience in high-level defense policy. Supporters defend his direct and modern leadership style while critics have raised questions regarding professionalism and protocol adherence.
Cybersecurity experts advise against relying solely on apps with end-to-end encryption like Signal as replacements for secure, classified communications systems. “Any intentional or not, this behavior sends the wrong signal down the chain of command,” noted one former Defense Communications Officer.
As pressure builds in Washington, the Department of Defense may soon face difficult questions regarding transparency, discipline, and the digital management of national security data.