**Hegseth Faces Scrutiny Over Group Chat Scandal, Raising Fresh Concerns About His Judgment**  

 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has maintained an air of confidence ever since the news broke on Monday that top Trump officials had a group chat about U.S. military attack plans, which inadvertently included a journalist. “I know exactly what I’m doing,” Hegseth told reporters on Tuesday.  

 By Wednesday, however, skepticism was mounting, particularly after *The Atlantic* revealed that Hegseth had shared details in the Signal chat about a planned strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen—including the timing and types of aircraft involved.  

 “It is safe to say that anybody in uniform would be court-martialed for this,” a defense official told CNN.  “My most junior analysts know not to do this.”  

 For including *Atlantic* editor Jeffrey Goldberg in the conversation, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has received criticism, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were questioned during two days of Congressional testimony. Still, former national security and intelligence officials say Hegseth bears the brunt of the blame given the sensitive information he disclosed.  

 A former senior intelligence official stated, "Hegseth is the egregious actor here." “He’s in the bullseye now because he put all this out on a Signal chat.”  

 Interviews with multiple current and former national security officials—including career military and civilian leaders—reflect growing unease about Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon.  

 The group chat scandal is just the latest controversy fueling concerns over Hegseth’s judgment.  Some officials point to a pattern of questionable decision-making in his first two months as secretary, as he struggles to implement consistent and durable policies across the Defense Department.