Hegseth calls protesters ‘ungrateful’ at National Guard event
Defense Commissioner Pete Hegseth praised the work of the National Guard during a Safe and Beautiful Task Force event in Washington, D.C., and called protesters “ungrateful.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on July 13 that the Pentagon and Justice Department have established a joint task force to identify and prosecute individuals who share classified information with the media, saying unauthorized disclosures can endanger lives and national security.
In a video posted to X, Hegseth said the new task force would help the Pentagon investigate the breach more quickly and thoroughly. He added that anyone who inappropriately shares confidential or classified information “will be subject to the full sanction of the law.”
“Leaks of information put lives at risk,” Hegseth said. “These new tools and processes will go a long way in protecting the joint force.”
Under the policy, the Office of the General Counsel would be able to request information from any Department of Defense department when investigating unauthorized disclosures to the media.
Hegseth said the Pentagon’s office has two days to respond “completely and completely” to requests for information related to the leak investigation.
Hegseth faces leak investigation
The announcement came after Hegseth himself faced questions about his handling of classified military information.
The New York Times and CNN reported in 2025 that Hegseth shared details about U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother. The report followed revelations that Hegseth was participating in a separate Signal chat with Trump administration officials discussing the same military operation.
The conversation reportedly included details about the timing of airstrikes by F-18 fighter jets and missiles fired from naval vessels.
Trump administration’s crackdown on information leaks expands
Hegseth’s announcement comes as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to identify the sources of government information leaks.
Last week, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to four journalists after The New York Times published a report about safety concerns surrounding a presidential aircraft donated by Qatar.
“Our journalists report the facts and advance the American people’s right to know how their government is run and how their taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Times attorney David McCraw said in a statement released by the Times.
Contributor: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
