As the Signalgate Scandal Grows, American Oversight Continues Investigations of Mismanagement at Hegseth’s Pentagon

Earlier this week, news emerged that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had shared military attack plans in yet another Signal group chat — this one with his wife, brother, personal lawyer, and others in his inner circle.

The use of the ephemeral, autodeleting messaging app for official business not only has serious national security risks; it also represents a grave threat to the public’s ability to hold our leaders accountable thanks to the increased likelihood of records being destroyed. Following the news, American Oversight amended its ongoing lawsuit against high-level officials, including Hegseth, and asked the court to issue an emergency order to prevent the further destruction of Signal messages that must be preserved under federal records laws. Earlier this month the Pentagon’s acting inspector general announced that it would be investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal, including compliance with records retention requirements.

There were reports on Tuesday that the White House was considering replacements for the embattled defense secretary. But whether Hegseth remains in his position or is replaced by another Trump loyalist, his tenure as defense secretary has demanded investigation for more than his dangerously careless use of Signal. His installation as secretary, despite credible allegations of sexual assault and domestic abuse, was in itself indicative of an administration that prizes political loyalty over actual experience or commitment to the rule of law. Moreover, Hegseth’s leadership at the Defense Department has reflected President Trump’s extreme and anti-democratic agenda, from anti-transgender directives to draconian immigration enforcement actions and loyalty purges, and those same forces would likely remain under a new appointee. 

Investigating Hegseth’s Management

The Defense Department is the largest agency in the federal government, with Hegseth and President Trump having recently pledged to up its budget to around $1 trillion. Carelessness and poor management on the part of the secretary carry enormous risks to national security — both to the safety of the people in uniform whom the secretary oversees and to the nation as a whole. And concerns about dysfunction at the agency were compounded this past weekend thanks to a Politico essay by Hegseth’s former top spokesman accusing him of mismanagement and chaos. 

Amid the chaos, several high-level officials have resigned or been forced out. At the same time, the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal employees across the government, including at the Pentagon, has drained agencies of experience and expertise. This week, we published records detailing the number of Defense Department security clearances revoked or suspended by the Trump administration during its first two months, as the president and his allies began unleashing retribution against those perceived to be disloyal. We’re also continuing to look into the high-level purges to shed light on terminations or reassignments, and have requested records related to employee firings. 

Investigating Hegseth’s Priorities

The most recent revelations about Hegseth’s having shared military plans with members of his personal circle demonstrates a brazen disdain for rules and protocols that Americans expect their leaders to follow. It also raises questions about whether Hegseth is prioritizing his own political or media ambitions over the interests of the American people. 

Hegseth was previously a co-host on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends Weekend,” and his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, is a former Fox News producer. On Wednesday, CBS News reported that Hegseth had recently ordered that a room adjacent to the Pentagon press briefing room be retrofitted with a makeup studio. “Hegseth hasn’t used the press room to brief reporters,” CBS reported. “But it has been a set for his TV appearances, including one with Fox this week in which he blamed the media and former Defense Department employees” for the news about his Signal group chat. 

During that appearance, Hegseth said that the information shared over the chat was “informal” and “for media coordination,” though as a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel told NPR, “there is just no-way, no-how, that an American military operation starting off is going to not be classified for Lord’s sake.” And the apparent consideration of media needs before the national security implications of sharing such plans with unauthorized people is hardly a strong defense.

Hegseth’s brother and his personal lawyer both hold positions within the Defense Department, but “it is not clear why either would need to know about upcoming military strikes aimed at the Houthis in Yemen,” as the New York Times noted when reporting on the Signal chat. Hegseth’s wife does not work for the Pentagon, but her reported attendance at highly sensitive meetings with foreign military leaders — including UK Defense Secretary John Healey and members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters — has drawn significant criticism. CNN also reported that she had submitted paperwork for a security clearance. (During the previous Trump administration, American Oversight investigated the problematic habit among some cabinet officials — notably Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — of involving their families in official government activities.)

American Oversight has submitted more than 20 Freedom of Information Act requests to the Pentagon for Hegseth’s communications with external entities or people, and we are seeking records regarding immigration detention and enforcement. We’ve also requested any emails exchanged with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was reported to have used his personal Gmail account for official government business — another dodgy communication habit that has troubling record-keeping implications.

Finally, Hegseth’s latest Signal chat scandal is an indication of how widespread the use of Signal likely is among top Trump officials. On Tuesday, American Oversight filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit, asking the court to issue an emergency order to prevent further destruction of communications sent via Signal in violation of the Federal Records Act.

The American people deserve to know whether their defense secretary is putting his political or political interests above our national security. And they deserve an administration that respects the rules about preserving official government records so that the public can hold them accountable for their actions — now and in the future.