Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected the Pentagon inspector general’s review into his use of the Signal app, calling the probe “a sham, conducted in bad faith and with extreme bias,” according to a department spokesman.
The investigation stems from reports that Hegseth shared sensitive military details with multiple group chats—including one inadvertently including an Atlantic editor—about a Yemen strike.
A bipartisan letter from Senate Armed Services Committee leaders Roger Wicker and Jack Reed prompted Acting IG Steven Stebbins to initiate the review on March 26 and again in April after disclosures of a second chat involving Hegseth, his wife, brother, and lawyer. Investigators are assessing compliance with DOD policy, classification procedures, and records retention rules.
The Washington Post detailed evidence that messages sent through Hegseth’s Signal account originated from an email labeled “SECRET/NOFORN,” sent by Gen. Michael Kurilla, raising national security concerns. Despite denials, the IG’s evidence schedule indicates significant overlap between Signal messages and classified sources.
Hegseth’s team struck a combative tone. Spokesman Sean Parnell characterized the review as politically motivated, claiming the probe is driven by “Biden administration holdovers” in the IG’s office. The term “witch hunt” echoes President Trump’s rhetoric and preempts the anticipated release of the IG’s findings in the coming weeks.
Sen. Reed, by contrast, defended the IG’s integrity, asserting that critics who question its impartiality undermine the public trust in oversight.
Reed stated, “The civilian leadership of the Department of Defense is not above the law. To suggest that the nonpartisan Inspector General is doing anything other than their impartial duties is simply wrong. Taxpayers and military personnel deserve to know the truth, and the Inspector General’s office has a responsibility to follow all evidence and report its independent findings.”
The outcome of the investigation may also affect Hegseth’s reported aspirations for political office in Tennessee, where critics question his eligibility given residency requirements.
