The White House on Monday defended Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth following a New York Times report alleging he shared sensitive Houthi rebel attack plans in a second private Signal messaging group, this time reportedly with family members.
The new accusation comes as the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoDIG) investigates a previous incident in which Hegseth shared a timeline of attacks on Houthi rebels in a Signal chat, where National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief.
That initial DoDIG probe was launched on April 3 at the request of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox & Friends Monday morning, stating that Hegseth has performed a “phenomenal job” leading the Pentagon. She relayed President Biden’s full support for the embattled Defense Secretary.
“The President stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth,” Leavitt said. She attributed the reports and leaks to internal resistance within the Pentagon, suggesting that some individuals are working against the changes Hegseth is attempting to implement. “This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change you are trying to implement,” she added, claiming that those who “don’t like the change the Secretary is trying to bring so they are leaking and lying to the mainstream media.”
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The Pentagon issued a statement Sunday denying that any classified information was shared in the Signal chat mentioned in the new report.
The new allegations and White House defense unfold amidst recent upheaval at the Pentagon. Three top advisors to Hegseth – senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg’s chief of staff Colin Carroll – were placed on leave last week as part of a probe into potential intelligence leaks.
Furthermore, Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, is reportedly set to depart the Pentagon. Kasper had launched his own investigation into leaks in March, though it remains unclear if his probe is directly connected to the recent dismissals.
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The situation has also drawn public criticism. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who had previously supported Hegseth’s nomination, published an op-ed in Politico Sunday critical of Hegseth’s leadership and disputing that the recent dismissals were solely over a leak investigation.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Hegseth attributed the leaks to “disgruntled former employees.”
“You know, what a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out,” Hegseth said. He added, “It’s not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters, and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn’t matter.”
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