US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about a March airstrike on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis in a Signal chat group. The group included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, according to a source familiar with the matter.

This raised concerns because he used an unclassified messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations. The issue became more serious since it came shortly after top Pentagon officials were dismissed over a separate leak investigation.

The private group included sensitive details

The Signal chat had around a dozen members. It contained information similar to what The Atlantic reported last month. That earlier leak happened after the magazine’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a private chat with senior Trump officials.

According to the source, this chat was initially set up to help with Hegseth’s confirmation process. Even so, it later revealed key details about the timing of the airstrike.

Hegseth’s family had direct Pentagon access

Jennifer Hegseth, Pete’s wife and a former Fox News producer, has attended military meetings. For instance, a public photo shows her sitting behind Hegseth during his March meeting with the British Defense Minister.

Additionally, his brother works as a liaison between the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon.

Lawmakers now demand Hegseth’s removal

Several political leaders have openly criticized Hegseth. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk… Pete Hegseth must be fired.”

Moreover, Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, called for his resignation. She stated that he “must resign in disgrace.”

His top adviser was fired earlier

Authorities earlier removed Dan Caldwell, one of Hegseth’s close advisers. He helped manage the Signal chat and acted as a key contact point for Hegseth.

Security officials escorted Caldwell out of the Pentagon as part of the ongoing leak probe. Later, he expressed frustration on X, writing, “We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended… Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks.”

More officials lost their jobs

Following Caldwell’s dismissal, the Pentagon placed two more senior staffers on administrative leave. Eventually, they fired Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll last Friday as the investigation expanded.