US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is confronting the most severe crisis of his tenure, with mounting pressure for his resignation over two major scandals: alleged war crimes in the Caribbean and the mishandling of classified military intelligence.
Allegations of a 'Double-Tap' Attack and a Blistering Watchdog Report
The defence chief is engulfed by separate but overlapping controversies that lawmakers and experts say reveal a pattern of dangerous recklessness. The first involves a Caribbean campaign of extrajudicial strikes against suspected drug smugglers, authorised by the Trump administration. Since September, at least 87 people have been killed in 22 attacks.
The legality of these operations came under intense scrutiny after it was revealed that a lethal follow-up strike on 2 September targeted survivors clinging to wreckage from an initial boat attack. Hegseth initially dismissed the reports but later confirmed the basic facts, stating he acted in the "fog of war."
Compounding this, a Defence Department Inspector General report concluded Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by using the Signal messaging app to share precise, sensitive details about upcoming airstrikes in Yemen hours before they were executed in March. The report found this "created a risk to operational security" that could have jeopardised missions and endangered US pilots.
Bipartisan Calls for Resignation and Mounting Criticism
Democratic legislators have reignited calls for Hegseth's immediate ouster. Senator Patty Murray, Democratic vice-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated following a briefing that "Secretary Hegseth is unfit for the role, and it is past time for him to go."
The New Democrat Coalition, the largest Democratic caucus in the House, issued a statement labelling Hegseth "incompetent, reckless, and a threat" to service members' lives. They accused him of lying, deflecting, and scapegoating subordinates.
Criticism has also come from some Republicans. Senator Rand Paul suggested Hegseth had lied about the September boat attack, while Congressman Don Bacon told CNN he had "seen enough" to conclude Hegseth was not the right leader for the Pentagon.
Furthermore, the strategic logic of the Caribbean campaign has been questioned. Jake Braun, a former official involved in counter-fentanyl strategy, noted, "If they want to stop fentanyl, I would focus more on tunnels and drones in Arizona rather than boats in the Caribbean."
Defiant Stance and Continued White House Support
Despite the inspector general's findings, Hegseth claimed vindication on social media, posting "no classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed." Senator Roger Wicker, Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, defended his actions as within his authority.
Crucially, Donald Trump continues to publicly back his defence secretary, with the White House expressing "the utmost confidence" in its national security team. With Republican control of the Senate and the President's support, Hegseth is unlikely to face immediate meaningful consequences.
At a cabinet meeting this week, Hegseth showed no signs of backing down, declaring the military had "only just begun striking narco-boats" though noting a temporary pause. A new strike killing four people was announced on Thursday, indicating the campaign continues.
