GOP Lawmakers Intensify Pressure on Hegseth

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers over a mishandling of sensitive military details in a group chat—conducted over the commercial app Signal—that inadvertently included a journalist.

Although some GOP senators have stopped short of demanding his resignation, many warn that his decision to share operational details of a planned strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen is a “strike” against his leadership.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) of the Senate Armed Services Committee criticized the incident, comparing it to a major error on a baseball field. “I think they should make sure it never happens again,” he said, adding that mistakes like this must be addressed immediately. Another Republican noted that while President Trump is reportedly “not happy,” the president has so far backed both Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who is believed to have assembled the chat.

Trump downplayed the controversy on Tuesday, calling it “the only glitch in two months” and hinting that he might extend the deadline to secure a buyer for TikTok, if necessary. However, GOP senators remain troubled by the breach, questioning why details about fighter jet launches and drone strike timings were discussed on a non-secure platform.

Critics are also taking issue with Hegseth’s denial that any “war plans” were being shared. A Republican lawmaker expressed frustration, asking, “Why don’t you just admit it?” Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) stressed that, regardless of the terminology used, the information in question was highly sensitive and should have been classified.

In response, Wicker and Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.) announced plans to send a letter to the Defense Department, demanding an expedited inspector general report on the security lapse and a classified briefing on the matter. They also intend to request that all records of Signal conversations among senior officials be preserved.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) called on Hegseth and his colleagues to acknowledge their mistake and take corrective action to prevent any future incidents. The scandal also raises questions about Hegseth’s long-term viability at the Pentagon, given that his nomination narrowly passed a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Vance after opposition from several Republican senators.

While some prominent Democrats, including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), have urged Hegseth’s removal, several Republicans and national security figures, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), defended the existing team, insisting that mistakes will be addressed internally.

As investigations continue and oversight committees seek answers, the full impact of this lapse on the defense establishment remains to be seen.