Hegseth’s new Signal scandal is so much worse than a lapse in judgment

It’s not surprising that the Trump administration would face another Signal scandal, but the recent revelations about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the weekend are still shocking. Last month, Hegseth shared strike plans recklessly in not one, but two unclassified group chats, putting American fighter pilots and sailors at risk.
Before a complex military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, Hegseth disclosed sensitive national security and operational information to his wife, brother, and personal lawyer on a Signal chat. These individuals had no legitimate reason to know about the upcoming strikes.
Maintaining operational security is crucial for those who have served in the military. The information was not shared in the same thread with the broader national security team led by national security adviser Mike Waltz. Hegseth initiated a separate group chat on his personal phone, despite being warned against sharing sensitive information on unsecured communication systems.
Details about military operations are highly classified to protect the mission and the individuals involved. Only specific authorities such as the president, vice president, National Security Council members, Joint Staff, and relevant military combatant commands have access to strike details. Hegseth’s actions were a breach of trust and not just a lapse in judgment, considering his military background.
Instead of taking responsibility, Hegseth has dismissed senior staff in his office, blaming them for unauthorized disclosures. He justified sharing the strike plans as “informal” and “unclassified” information for media coordination. However, the breach of trust and risk posed by Hegseth’s actions cannot be ignored.
It is essential to address the repeated breaches of trust by Hegseth through a congressional investigation. Our service members and allies deserve better than a defense secretary who jeopardizes operational security by sharing sensitive information in unclassified group chats, not just once but twice.