Senate Armed Services Committee leaders, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed and GOP committee chairman Roger Wicker, are calling for an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leak of information on a U.S. attack on Houthi militants in Yemen. This request came after it was revealed that Hegseth and other Trump administration officials discussed the attack on an encrypted messaging app, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz accidentally including a journalist in the chat. Reed expressed concern over the lack of judgment and the potential consequences of discussing sensitive military information outside secure channels. Wicker also raised alarm over the disclosure of classified information and called for a probe into the matter, marking rare criticism from a Republican against the Trump administration.
The incident has sparked a tense exchange during a House hearing, where a Democratic representative questioned if Hegseth was drinking when the information was leaked. Hegseth dismissed the concerns, stating that no war plans were being discussed through texts. Despite this, Reed emphasized that the incident showed Hegseth’s lack of temperament and experience to lead the Pentagon. Trump, on the other hand, downplayed the issue, stating that the disclosures didn’t bother him.
Depending on the results of the investigation, the Armed Services Committee may hold a hearing on the matter. The bipartisan call for an independent review intensifies pressure on Hegseth and the Pentagon to explain the incident and its implications.
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