Nicolai Haugsted
Pentagon insiders are reportedly preparing to reveal damaging information about Pete Hegseth.
Political power in Washington can change dramatically after a midterm election. For senior government officials, losing the protection of a friendly congressional majority can mean facing investigations that were previously difficult to pursue.
That possibility is becoming particularly relevant at the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced repeated controversies over his leadership, personnel decisions and handling of sensitive military information.
With November’s congressional elections approaching, Democrats are reportedly preparing to examine his record if they regain control of the House of Representatives.
According to The Telegraph, current and former Pentagon officials are willing to cooperate with potential investigations, while Democratic lawmakers have already established contact with prospective whistleblowers.
The reported preparations could eventually lead to impeachment proceedings against Hegseth, although any such effort would face significant political and legal obstacles.
Former allies could become his biggest problem
Hegseth’s relationship with senior military figures has reportedly deteriorated following a series of dismissals and internal disputes.
His tenure has included the removal of high-ranking officers, including former Army chief of staff Randy George and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown.
The defense secretary has also faced criticism over his treatment of military leadership, particularly after a gathering at Quantico where he addressed physical fitness and grooming standards.
According to sources cited by The Telegraph, the personnel changes and tensions inside the department could leave Hegseth exposed if congressional investigators begin seeking testimony.
One source familiar with the situation predicted that officials would be eager to share information with lawmakers.
“There’s going to be a lot of people that are going to very quietly go to the chair of the armed [services] committee and are going to spill their guts, provide them with everything they can and leak everything they can,” the source said.
The source added:
“It’ll be horrendous. It’ll be consistent embarrassment.”
Such predictions remain speculative, but they suggest that investigators could find willing witnesses among people who have worked inside the Pentagon.
Democrats are already making preparations
According to The Telegraph, Democratic lawmakers are not waiting until the November elections to identify potential witnesses.
A Democratic member of Congress, speaking anonymously, confirmed having contacted sources inside the department.
The lawmaker said the ultimate objective could be impeachment, but stressed that investigators would first need to establish the facts through a comprehensive inquiry.
Democrats would gain greater investigative authority if they secured a House majority.
That could include issuing subpoenas to compel testimony and obtain documents from senior officials.
Hegseth himself could be called to testify, alongside members of his closest circle, including his wife, Jen Hegseth, and senior aide Ricky Buria.
Former Pentagon officials who departed following disputes within the department, including Dan Driscoll and John Phelan, could also be approached.
A former senior administration official warned that the defense secretary’s strained relationships might have serious consequences.
“Hegseth has two huge problems,” the former official said.
“Through his arrogance, he’s made many former allies willing to work with Democrats to hold his feet to the fire for all the damage he’s done to our military.”
The allegations reflect the source’s assessment rather than an established finding about Hegseth’s conduct.
The Signal scandal could return to haunt him
Among the controversies likely to receive renewed scrutiny is the handling of sensitive military information through the Signal messaging application.
The incident, widely referred to as Signalgate, emerged in March 2025 after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently included in a group conversation discussing American military operations.
Hegseth subsequently faced questions about whether sharing operational details through the application violated security requirements.
A Pentagon investigation released in December criticized his handling of the information and identified potential risks to American personnel.
The report also addressed his authority as defense secretary to determine classification status, and the incident did not result in criminal charges against him.
Hegseth has characterized the findings as a “total exoneration.”
However, sources speaking to The Telegraph believe investigators should examine whether the information had been formally declassified before being shared.
One source who had contacted Democrats questioned whether the necessary documentation existed.
“If he claims he somehow declassified a SECRET/NOFORN [not releasable to foreign nationals] communication from [US Central Command] minutes between receiving it and sending it to his wife and others, he will need to show the written memorandum ordering the declassification before texting the information,” the source said.
“Clearly that is risible on its face.”
The claim raises a potential line of inquiry, but it does not establish that Hegseth committed a criminal offense.
Investigators could examine much more than leaked messages
The Telegraph reports that Democrats are considering a broader examination of Hegseth’s leadership.
Potential subjects include American military operations involving Iran, shortages of missile interceptors, and strikes against vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Pentagon contracting decisions could also attract attention.
According to the report, one Democratic lawmaker wants to investigate whether contracts awarded during Hegseth’s tenure involved preferential arrangements.
No evidence of personal financial wrongdoing by Hegseth was presented in the report, and there is no suggestion that such arrangements have occurred.
Investigators would therefore need to distinguish between political criticism, disputed policy decisions and any conduct that might warrant formal legal action.
A Pentagon source also indicated a willingness to provide Congress with information about what the source described as internal “chaos” under Hegseth.
Impeachment would face a major obstacle
Even if Democrats gain control of the House and pursue impeachment proceedings, removing Hegseth would be considerably more difficult.
The House can approve articles of impeachment by a simple majority, but conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority of senators present.
Historically, no American cabinet secretary has been convicted by the Senate following impeachment.
The Telegraph reports that three lawmakers, including a Republican, have already introduced impeachment articles against Hegseth.
A future investigation could involve several congressional committees, including the House Armed Services Committee, the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
Any potential criminal allegations would be a separate matter.
Congress can refer suspected offenses to the Justice Department, but it cannot force federal prosecutors to bring charges.
Could Trump dismiss Hegseth first?
Some sources believe a congressional investigation might create enough political pressure for President Donald Trump to replace his defense secretary before impeachment proceedings reach a decisive stage.
According to The Telegraph, those familiar with the preparations see the prospect of damaging testimony and prolonged scrutiny as a potential threat to Hegseth’s position.
Trump has previously removed or reassigned senior officials during his second administration, although that history does not establish how he would respond to renewed allegations involving Hegseth.
The president has not indicated in the material reported by The Telegraph that he intends to dismiss the defense secretary.
For now, the possibility remains a scenario discussed by sources rather than an announced White House decision.
The Pentagon has offered a response focused on its military responsibilities rather than the prospective congressional investigations.
Sean Parnell, the department’s chief spokesman, defended its priorities in a statement to The Telegraph.
“At the war department, we are solely focused on peace through strength and ensuring our warfighters have everything they need to be successful,” he said.
“We are proud to serve our warriors.”
