The White House has officially commenced the search for a new Secretary of Defense, according to a U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. This development comes amidst ongoing controversies surrounding the current Secretary, Pete Hegseth. The situation has raised significant questions about the stability of leadership within the Department of Defense.
Recent reports indicate that Secretary Hegseth has been involved in a series of controversial incidents. Notably, NPR has confirmed that Hegseth shared sensitive information regarding last month's military strikes in Yemen through a Signal chat with his wife and brother. This occurred just minutes after he received a briefing from a senior U.S. military official. The Yemen strikes have drawn scrutiny, particularly with the revelation of the second Signal group chat concerning the mission, first reported by The New York Times.
In March, Hegseth was involved in another incident where he inadvertently included a journalist in a Signal chat with top White House officials discussing actions against Houthi targets in Yemen. This pattern of miscommunication and the subsequent fallout has led to a turbulent atmosphere within the Department of Defense. In recent weeks, four senior advisers to Hegseth have left their positions abruptly, with allegations of leaking information surfacing. These exits have sparked public statements hinting at serious infighting within the department.
Despite the controversies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has publicly denied any efforts to replace Hegseth. On social media platform X, she asserted that President Trump continues to stand firmly behind him. As this situation continues to develop, further updates are expected regarding the future of the Secretary of Defense position and the implications for U.S. defense policy.
This breaking story will be updated as more information becomes available. It is worth noting that NPR's CEO, Katherine Maher, chairs the board of the Signal Foundation, adding an additional layer of interest to this unfolding narrative.
