Additional Coverage:
Pentagon in Chaos Under Hegseth, Say Former Officials
Former Pentagon employees have described an agency in disarray under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging reckless actions that have drawn criticism from the White House and sparked a media firestorm. A recent report revealed Hegseth shared classified information about an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen with his wife, brother, lawyer, and about a dozen Pentagon staffers via a private messaging app. This revelation comes on the heels of another security breach involving a separate chat group created by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, which inadvertently included a prominent journalist.
The fallout has been swift, with two senior officials fired for alleged security violations and expectations of further dismissals as an inspector general investigation continues. Adding fuel to the fire, former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, in a scathing op-ed, described the situation as a “full-on meltdown,” suggesting Hegseth’s position may be in jeopardy. Ullyot defended the fired officials, claiming they were unfairly targeted.
Hegseth vehemently denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the reports as “hit pieces” by disgruntled former employees and a biased media. He compared the situation to the “Russia hoax,” accusing the media of relying on anonymous sources to damage reputations.
Despite bipartisan calls for his resignation, Hegseth retains President Trump’s unwavering support. The administration insists no classified information was shared, contradicting reports detailing the disclosure of sensitive operational details. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed the president’s “absolute confidence” in Hegseth.