Hegseth’s Confirmation and Early Tenure Under Scrutiny Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Secretary of Defense in early 2025 after a contentious Senate hearing that spotlighted doubts about his temperament and leadership style, yet the Republican‑led vote secured his appointment [2]. His first months in office quickly became dominated by operational controversies that drew intense media and congressional attention.

Signal Messaging Used for Yemen Strike Planning Within three months of taking office, Hegseth and senior officials exchanged detailed Yemen attack plans on the encrypted app Signal, a practice dubbed “Signalgate” [2]. The messages, which included a minute‑by‑minute timeline, were inadvertently shared with a journalist, prompting concerns about oversight and information security [1][3]. The Inspector General later concluded the exchange did not constitute a classified leak [1].

Second Caribbean/Venezuelan Boat Strike Sparks Legal Debate On September 2, 2025, U.S. special‑operations forces struck a drug‑laden vessel off Venezuela, killing surviving crew members who were not combatants [2]. Hegseth defended the action as a “fog of war” decision, saying he did not see survivors amid explosions [2]. Legal analysts, including retired Maj. Gen. Steven Lepper, argue the strike likely violated international law and could constitute a war crime [3].

Hegseth Denies Direct Order, Blames On‑Scene Command On December 2, Hegseth told reporters he left the secure room after viewing a live feed and never saw survivors, asserting the strike decision was made by other officials [3]. Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, then commander of JSOC, directed the operation from Fort Bragg and later received Hegseth’s public support [3]. Pentagon doctrine delegates tactical strike authority to on‑scene commanders, with civilian leaders providing oversight rather than issuing direct orders [3].

IG Report Clears Leak Claim, Trump Defends Hegseth The Inspector General’s December 4 report found no classified information was compromised in the Signal exchange and affirmed that operational security remained intact [1]. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced President Trump’s continued backing of Hegseth following the report [1]. The findings contrast with Democratic calls for Hegseth’s removal over the same incidents [1].

Congressional Split Over Hegseth’s Future Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Chairman Roger Wicker said Hegseth remains in a “pretty good position,” while Republicans Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski questioned his honesty [1]. Democratic senators Mark Kelly, Jack Reed, and others urged his dismissal, citing potential war crimes and the Signal controversy [1][2]. The Senate Armed Services Committee announced special oversight hearings to examine the September 2 strike and related conduct [2].