Fresh scrutiny is mounting around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following revelations that he may have shared sensitive military information in a second Signal group chat, this time involving family members and close associates.
The New York Times first reported the existence of the chat, dubbed “Defense | Team Huddle,” citing four anonymous sources with knowledge of its contents. CNN and the Associated Press also confirmed the report, highlighting growing concerns over Hegseth’s handling of national security information. This follows last month’s controversy in which Hegseth was revealed to have shared U.S. military strike details in another Signal group that mistakenly included Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
The second chat reportedly included flight schedules for F/A-18 combat aircraft targeting Houthi rebel positions in Yemen—described as similar to the information shared in the earlier leak. Though the Pentagon insists no classified material was disclosed, the incident has sparked renewed bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill and calls for Hegseth’s resignation.
The group included Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, his brother Phil (a senior adviser at DHS), his personal attorney Tim Parlatore—whom he recently commissioned into the Navy’s JAG Corps—and several close aides, including Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The inclusion of individuals without formal national security roles, such as Hegseth’s wife, has raised red flags among lawmakers.
“This is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth’s reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging the Pentagon’s inspector general to expand its investigation.
White House and Pentagon officials have downplayed the report. “There was no classified information in any Signal chat,” Parnell said in a statement Sunday, accusing the “Trump-hating media” of targeting the administration. Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly blamed “disgruntled former employees,” claiming the allegations were being pushed by recently fired staff.
Among those recently dismissed were Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—three of Hegseth’s former senior advisers. In a joint statement, they denied any wrongdoing and accused Pentagon leadership of slandering their reputations. Former acting Defense Department press secretary John Ullyot, who resigned last week, added fuel to the controversy with a blistering op-ed describing “total chaos” within the department and predicting further revelations.
Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Andy Kim, and Rep. Jerry Nadler, reiterated their calls for Hegseth to resign. “Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops’ lives are endangered,” Duckworth wrote on social media.
As investigations continue and pressure builds, Hegseth’s future at the Pentagon remains uncertain.
