Exclusive: The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary
The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to find himself mired in controversy. NPR has also confirmed with the same official that Hegseth shared details ahead of last month’s Yemen strikes with his wife and brother in a Signal chat on his personal phone, minutes after being updated by a senior U.S. military official. The news of the second Signal group chat about the mission was first reported by The New York Times.
In March, Hegseth shared details about action against Houthi targets in Yemen in a Signal chat with top White House officials that accidentally included a journalist.
In the last few weeks, four senior advisers to Hegseth have left abruptly, some accused of leaking. They have all released public statements suggesting infighting within the department of defense.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that there’s an effort to replace Hegseth, posting on X that President Trump “stands strongly” behind him.
This breaking story will be updated.
NPR disclosure: Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, chairs the board of the Signal Foundation.
FAA seeks to fine Boeing $3.1 million for safety violations, door plug blowout
The FAA said it identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., and Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' 737 factory in Wichita, Kan.
Fed’s Cook claimed second residence as ‘vacation home,’ undercutting Trump fraud claims
Fed Gov. Lisa Cook referred to a condo she bought in 2021 as a "vacation home" in a loan estimate, which could undermine claims by the Trump administration that she committed mortgage fraud.
Charlie Kirk’s widow: ‘You have no idea what you have just unleashed’
Erika Kirk said Charlie Kirk's mission will continue, and thanked law enforcement and President Trump for supporting her family in the aftermath of her husband's death.
Opinion: Our backgrounds and beliefs may vary, but we’re all American
NPR's Scott Simon recounts the toll of five years of political violence in the U.S.
The Toronto International Film Festival is full of great movies. Here are 6 we loved
Channing Tatum plays a real armed robber who hid out in a Toys "R" Us. Daniel Craig returns for the next Knives Out mystery. And Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler gets a gorgeously rendered adaptation.
Trump’s Energy Department disbands group that sowed doubt about climate change
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has disbanded a controversial Climate Working Group (CWG), which wrote a report that scientists say was full of errors and misrepresented climate science.
