Allegations of improper sharing of military plans by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have resurfaced, only to be swiftly refuted by Pentagon leadership.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Waltzesman Sean Parnell refuted the claims as recycled attacks from disgruntled former employees, accusing media outlets of pushing a biased narrative against Hegseth and President Trump’s agenda, according to Breitbart.
The controversy centers on private Signal chats allegedly used by Hegseth to discuss military operations. Before his confirmation as defense secretary, Hegseth created a Signal chat named “Defense | Team Huddle” in January.
This group included close allies such as his wife Jennifer, brother Phil, lawyer Tim Parlatore, chief of staff Joe Kasper, and Parnell, among others. The chat, accessed via Hegseth’s private phone, was intended for routine administrative and scheduling discussions, according to two sources.
Media reports from The New York Times claimed Hegseth shared details about F/A-18 Hornet flight schedules targeting Houthi forces in Yemen within this chat. These claims relied on four anonymous sources described as knowing the discussions.
Parnell dismissed the allegations, asserting no classified information was shared in the “Defense | Team Huddle” chat. Essentially, the story is yet another leftist fabrication based on zero evidence.
CNN reported that Hegseth established the “Defense | Team Huddle” chat during his confirmation hearings to strategize with trusted allies.
The outlet, citing three sources familiar with the chat, noted that Hegseth continued using it after his confirmation. Parnell criticized the media for relying on fired employees with motives to undermine Hegseth’s leadership.
“Another day, another old story—back from the dead,” Parnell said. He accused outlets like The New York Times of amplifying grievances from former staff to sabotage Trump’s agenda. The Pentagon remains focused on strengthening its operations, he added.
A separate Signal chat, “Houthi PC small group,” stirred additional controversy after The Atlantic revealed its existence. This chat, accidentally including The Atlantic’s editor Jeffrey Goldberg, involved high-profile figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Hegseth shared operational details about Yemen strikes in this chat on March 15.
At 11:44 a.m. ET on March 15, Hegseth messaged the “Houthi PC small group” chat with a timeline for strikes on Yemen. The message outlined F-18 launches at 12:15 p.m. ET, a strike window starting at 1:45 p.m. ET, drones on target at 1:15 p.m. ET, and Tomahawk missiles launched at 3:36 p.m. ET. The Atlantic reported explosions in Sanaa, Yemen, around 1:55 p.m. ET, aligning with the timeline.
Hegseth’s message claimed the operation was “clean on OPSEC” and concluded with “Godspeed to our Warriors.” Vice President Vance responded, “I will say a prayer for victory,” while two others added prayer emojis. No locations or sources were included in the message, according to Waltz and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Waltz denied that “war plans” were shared in the chat, emphasizing that foreign partners had been notified of the strikes beforehand. “No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS,” Waltz stated. He called the media’s portrayal of the chat’s contents misleading.
Parnell reiterated that no classified information was compromised in any Signal chat. “There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story,” he said. He accused the media of distorting facts to weaken Hegseth’s credibility.
The Pentagon’s focus remains on executing President Trump’s agenda, Parnell noted. “What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient,” he said. He vowed the department would not back down from its mission.
Hegseth himself mocked the media’s claims, stating, “The Atlantic released the so-called ‘war plans’ and those ‘plans’ include: No names. No targets. No locations.” He called the reported details “really shitty war plans.” His comments underscored the Pentagon’s stance that the chats contained no sensitive information.
Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly and Rep. Eric Swalwell, called for Hegseth and Waltz to resign or be fired over the Signal chat revelations. They argued the chats raised concerns about operational security and leadership judgment.
These responses are expected as Democrats have been gunning for Hegseth and are grasping at straws to damage him while he carries out reforms in the armed forces.