A deepening crisis is unfolding at the Pentagon as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faces mounting pressure to step down amid a wave of internal dysfunction, damaging leaks, and revelations of possible mishandling of classified information. According to a Politico report, at least one former top official now believes Hegseth could be forced to resign soon, as confidence in his leadership continues to erode inside the Defense Department.
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The turmoil comes on the heels of several serious breaches involving U.S. military strategy. Leaked details about Pentagon planning in both the Panama Canal region and the Middle East have rattled senior leadership and further isolated Hegseth, who reportedly believes that some of the leaks originated from within his own inner circle. His reaction to the fallout has only fueled the tension.
Sources told CNN that Hegseth became increasingly suspicious and erratic in response to the disclosures, lashing out at senior military officials and advisers whom he suspected of undermining him. In one particularly consequential moment, he demanded that the FBI be brought in to investigate the leaks. However, advisers cautioned against that move, warning that an external probe could amplify scrutiny — especially since Hegseth is already the subject of an inspector general investigation within the department.
But the most explosive development may be the revelation that Hegseth himself shared sensitive military details over private messaging platforms.
According the New York Times, Hegseth used a private Signal chat group to share details of upcoming U.S. airstrikes in Yemen on March 15. The chat reportedly included his wife, his brother, and his personal attorney. The information shared included precise flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets assigned to strike Houthi targets — highly classified operational material that is never meant to be shared outside of secure government channels.
That same day, similar information was reportedly shared in a separate Signal group that, due to what sources say was a mistake, included an editor from The Atlantic. The error has prompted serious concerns about the extent of the breach and whether national security was compromised. It is not yet clear if any formal damage assessment is underway.
While the Defense Department has not issued an official comment, the situation has drawn sharp internal criticism. The Pentagon’s former chief spokesperson described the atmosphere within the building as one of “total chaos,” citing widespread dysfunction, infighting, and strategic missteps at the top.
“The building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership,” the former spokesperson said, according to Politico.
The perception of instability at the highest levels of the Pentagon is sparking alarm among both civilian officials and military brass, particularly as global tensions remain high. Senior officials are reportedly spending more time navigating internal crises than focusing on external threats, a dynamic that multiple sources say has crippled decision-making within the department.
As of now, there has been no public statement from Hegseth, the White House, or the Department of Defense regarding his future. But behind the scenes, conversations have already begun about potential successors, according to officials familiar with the matter.
What began as a troubling pattern of leaks has now snowballed into a full-blown leadership crisis — one that could reshape the top ranks of the Pentagon and leave lasting scars on U.S. defense leadership at a precarious moment for national security.
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