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Signalgate 2.0?! Reports Reveal Hegseth Used SECOND Insecure Chat for War Plans (With Family?!)

Just when you thought the Defense Secretary using Signal for Yemen strike plans was bad, reports claim he used another chat for sensitive Somalia ops... and included his wife and brother. Congress is alarmed, investigators are probing. WTF is happening at the Pentagon?

April 21, 2025

Alright folks, remember "Signalgate"? That absolutely baffling incident where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top Trump administration officials were caught using the encrypted messaging app Signal – complete with auto-deleting messages – to discuss real-time military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen... and accidentally included a journalist from The Atlantic in the chat? Yeah, that was bad. Like, "violating federal records laws and basic operational security 101" bad.

Well, buckle up, because apparently, that wasn't a one-off blunder. It might be a habit. And it gets even weirder.

According to reports this weekend from The New York Times (cited by Reuters, AP, and the BBC), it turns out there was another, previously undisclosed Signal group chat where Secretary Hegseth was allegedly discussing sensitive military information.

But here's the kicker that elevates this from mere recklessness to full-blown WTF nepotism and security nightmare territory: The New York Times also reported that this second chat group included Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Hegseth (a former Fox News producer), and his brother, Phil Hegseth, who apparently landed a job at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser. Both family members have reportedly traveled with the Defense Secretary and even attended high-level meetings.

Let's just pause and appreciate the sheer, multi-layered WTF-ness here. The Secretary of Defense – the person responsible for the entire US military apparatus – was allegedly using a commercial, encrypted messaging app, known for its disappearing message feature, not just once, but at least twice for discussions involving active military operations. And in at least one of those chats, he reportedly included his wife and brother, whose security clearances and need-to-know for Somalia special operations discussions are, shall we say, highly questionable.

The first incident, involving the Yemen strikes where Hegseth reportedly shared exact timings for attacks before they happened, was already shocking enough. It raised immediate alarms about leaks, bypassing secure channels, and potential illegal destruction of official records (prompting an ongoing Pentagon IG investigation and a court order preserving messages).

Now, we learn about another chat focused on Somalia special ops, apparently treated with the same casual insecurity, and potentially including family members privy to sensitive discussions. This suggests a potential pattern of using insecure, inappropriate methods for highly sensitive national security deliberations, blurring lines between official duty, personal relationships, and basic security protocols.

Predictably, key figures in Congress are reacting with alarm. NPR reported today that Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed deep concern about these revelations before the family angle was widely reported. He highlighted the obvious risks: devastating leaks, blatant disregard for federal records laws, and the recklessness of bypassing secure communication systems. One can only imagine the reaction now.

Think about it: War plans, special operations details, potentially classified information – all allegedly discussed on an app designed for casual chats, potentially alongside family members, and potentially vanishing into thin air instead of being properly archived and secured. What could possibly go wrong? (Besides, you know, accidentally texting war plans to a reporter, which already happened).

The Pentagon IG investigation continues, and now they presumably have another, even more problematic, chat to dig into. But the core question remains: How is this happening? How can the leadership of the US military be so cavalier with sensitive national security information, basic protocols, and potentially involve uncleared family members in such discussions? It's not just sloppy; it's potentially dangerous and reeks of nepotism mixed with incompetence. It is, from top to bottom, a staggering Daily Dose of WTF emanating from the very building meant to protect the nation.

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