Republican Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon became the first GOP lawmaker on Monday to encourage President Donald Trump to expel Defense Secretary Pete Hegses.
bacon I said Reporting his decision to share sensitive information about the Houthi Rebel attack plan with family members, Politico was “completely unacceptable” and that he was interested in the Secretary of Defense’s ability to lead the pentagon. Trump stands by Hegzes despite a series of controversies relating to the secretary’s leadership over a vast institution. Discussion Hegseth’s concerns about handling military intelligence are “a waste of time.” (Related: Pentagon rejects reporting of second signal group chat leaks)
“If it’s true that he had something else [Signal] Chat with his family about their mission to Hoosis, that’s completely unacceptable,” Bacon said. Report From the New York Times, Hegses used Signal, an unclassified messaging platform, to share sensitive military information with family members. “I’m not in the White House. I’m not going to tell the White House how to manage this, but I don’t think it’s acceptable. I won’t tolerate it if I’m in charge.”
“Russia and China will raise thousands of people to monitor all these calls at the top, and the number one goal outside of the president will be the Secretary of Defense,” Bacon continued. “Russia and China are all around his phone, and it’s not right for him to put secret things on his phone. He acts like he’s beyond the law. It shows an amateur.”
The Department of Defense (DOD) reported that Hegseth had sent confidential information about the signal in a statement released Sunday evening.
“The media that hates Trump continues to be obsessed with destroying those who have committed to President Trump’s agenda,” Dod spokesman Sean Parnell wrote X:
Bacon is a Moderate Vice President Kamala Harris represents one of the three house districts held by the GOP. I won November. He is a retired Air Force Brigadier General. Serve As chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services, he is a cyber-centric subcommittee.
Previously a Republican of Nebraska It was criticized The Trump administration took place in March after the senior officials denied sharing careless military data with signal journalists.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses listens when President Donald J. Trump meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Oval Office in Washington, DC on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Photo by the Washington Post via Jaybin Botsford/Getty Images)
Bacon also expressed concern about Hegseth’s leadership capabilities following his decision to place three DOD advisors on vacation from April 15th.
“It looks like the meltdown is ongoing,” Bacon told Politico. “There’s a lot of smoke coming out of the Pentagon, but it made me believe there’s a fire somewhere.”
Former Pentagon spokesman John Ulittt has sharply criticised Hegses’s allegations of managing the department. op-ed For Politico, which was released on Sunday. Uritt argued that the Pentagon was in a state of “complete confusion” under Heggs’s guidance and “writing.”[A]The terrifying moon, the Pentagon’s focus is no longer on combat, but on endless drama. ”
Heggs I said Reporter on Monday said Uriot was one of the “disgruntized employees” who tried to ruin his reputation.
Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Hegseth to lead the Pentagon in January, and Vice President J.D. Vance voted for a tiebreak to approve his nomination. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Markowski of Alaska opposed his nomination. Quote Partially Concerns About his lack of experience leading the Department of Defense.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan newswire service that is free to use for legitimate news publishers that can provide large audiences. All republished articles must include logos, reporter signatures and DCNF affiliation. For questions regarding our guidelines or partnerships with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
