The Trump administration is currently weighing possible replacements for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, amid a fresh wave of criticism related to allegations of mishandling secure information, according to a U.S. official who spoke to NPR on Monday.
The source, who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the conversations, emphasized that the process is in its early stages and that no definitive choice has been made regarding leadership changes at the Department of Defense.
The uproar centers on accusations that Hegseth shared classified military data using Signal, a private encrypted messaging app, with people who were not part of any official defense channels.
Over the weekend, reports emerged identifying the recipients of these messages as Hegseth’s spouse, his brother, and his legal representative. These exchanges allegedly included live operational updates tied to U.S. strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The incident is believed to have taken place in March, around the same time Hegseth was also involved in a separate Signal conversation that included high-level White House officials and, inadvertently, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg from The Atlantic. That particular communication reportedly occurred shortly before U.S. military action, sparking unease among national security insiders about the implications for mission secrecy and troop safety. In recent weeks, Houthi fighters have brought down multiple American drones.
Even as the controversy gains traction, administration officials are dismissing speculation that Hegseth could be on his way out. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation on X, stating that President Trump “stands strongly” with the current defense secretary. Trump reiterated his backing during public comments.
“He’s doing a great job — ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said in response to questions about the Signal issue. “Concerns over the Signal chats are a waste of time.”
Hegseth also directly rebutted the allegations while attending the White House’s Easter festivities, flatly rejecting any suggestion of impropriety.
“This is what the media does,” Hegseth said. “They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people, ruin their reputation. It’s not going to work with me.”
{Matzav.com}