Pete Hegseth Under Inquiry for Potential Disclosure of Classified Information, Raising National Security Concerns
WASHINGTON – Fox News personality and veteran Pete Hegseth is at the center of a Pentagon investigation into whether he improperly disclosed classified information during appearances on television, according to reports surfacing this week. The investigation centers on Hegseth’s discussion of sensitive details regarding operations he observed while embedded with U.S. special forces, perhaps jeopardizing ongoing military efforts and personnel.
The controversy arises as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin already faces scrutiny over recent, and legally questionable, military actions authorized in the Pacific and Caribbean regions targeting suspected drug trafficking operations. This latest growth adds to a growing wave of criticism surrounding transparency and accountability within the current administration’s national security practices. Senator Mark Kelly, as cited by The Atlantic, noted that while Austin has the authority to declassify information, “What is less clear is why Hegseth felt it was appropriate or necessary to do so.”
Hegseth was classified at the time he received the information, American media have reported. the details in question reportedly concerned operations he witnessed while embedded with special forces units. The Pentagon’s Inspector General is investigating whether Hegseth’s disclosures violated security protocols and potentially endangered military personnel or compromised sensitive operations.
The investigation coincides with heightened debate over a series of U.S. military strikes carried out against vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. These operations, lacking publicly available evidence linking the targeted boats to drug cartels, have resulted in the deaths of over 80 people, including those killed in a second strike against a vessel already under attack. Experts have questioned the legality of these actions, and the administration has faced criticism for a perceived lack of transparency regarding the justification for the strikes.
