Scandal at the Pentagon

Translated by Federico Emanuele

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense and self-styled “War Secretary,” is facing a profound crisis that threatens to destabilize the Pentagon and the military policy of the Trump administration.

The Signal Scandal

The first scandal involving Hegseth dates back to April of this year, when he allegedly discussed classified Pentagon information in a group on the messaging app Signal, an application known for its weak security controls and traceability. Specifically, Hegseth shared details regarding a U.S. Air Force operation in Yemen, including the number and timing of the airstrikes.

Despite Hegseth’s firm denial of the allegations—pointing the finger instead at former Pentagon employees dissatisfied with his management—the issue has recently resurfaced. The Pentagon Inspector General published a report concluding that the Secretary of Defense did, in fact, violate the department's internal regulations. The report confirms that Hegseth’s actions “created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in mission failure and potentially harmed American pilots.”

The "War On Drugs"

A second scandal concerns the “war on drugs” declared by President Donald Trump against the illegal fentanyl trade within U.S. territory. While many experts argue that the primary entry point for fentanyl is Mexico, Trump’s aggressive policy currently focuses on the Caribbean. There, the Tren de Aragua gang has been officially designated as a terrorist organization, and several Venezuelan vessels have been targeted by U.S. attacks. In this context, multiple operations have already resulted in the deaths of over 80 Venezuelans. Particular outcry was sparked by an operation on September 2, during which two men who had survived an initial attack were targeted again and killed.

Once again, despite a Washington Post investigation suggesting that Hegseth himself ordered to “kill them all” - an order that several Democratic representatives claim constitutes a war crime - the Pentagon justified the use of force as self-defense and shifted the responsibility for the order onto Admiral Frank M. Bradley. “We have only just begun to strike the drug traffickers' ships,” Hegseth stated, openly defending Bradley and confirming Trump’s unconditional support for the operation.

Calls for Resignation

Despite the Pentagon’s justifications and Trump’s backing, the disproportionate use of military force and Hegseth’s clumsy handling of the Signal case have sparked urgent calls for the Secretary’s resignation.

While the majority of complaints regarding the mismanagement of the Pentagon come from the Democratic Party, prominent Republican figures also participated in a bipartisan meeting to discuss the matter. “Between overseeing this campaign in the Caribbean, risking the lives of American service members by sharing war plans on Signal, and much more, it could not be more obvious that Secretary Hegseth is unfit for this role, and it is time for him to resign,” declared Democratic Senator Patty Murray during the meeting.

Furthermore, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy accused Hegseth of having “sold out Admiral Bradley” regarding the September 2 attack, sending, in his opinion, a clear and damaging message to the Pentagon’s chain of command. Other Democratic representatives have described him as “incompetent, reckless, and a threat to the lives of the men and women serving in the armed forces,” accusing him of lying openly and shifting his own failures onto his subordinates.

On the Republican side, Senator Rand Paul expressed doubt regarding the dynamics of the September 2 attack, while Representative Don Bacon told CNN he has seen enough to be convinced that Hegseth is not the right leader for the Pentagon.

Despite the growing unrest and demands for resignation from both sides of the political aisle, Trump’s support for the military operations in the Caribbean and Hegseth’s management remains unwavering. “A great job”: this is how Trump describes Hegseth’s performance during the first months of his second term, even as concerns over the disproportionate use of military force continue to mount.

Mondo Internazionale APS - Riproduzione Riservata ® 2025