Trust Collapse under the Double Scandal: The governance crisis of US Defense Secretary Hegseth

U.S. Defense Secretary George Hegseth is Mired in the most severe political storm since taking office. On one side, there is the controversy over "leaving no survivors" sparked by the crackdown on "drug carriers" in the Caribbean, which is suspected of violating the laws of war. On the other side, the "group chat scandal" exposed the improper handling of confidential information, seriously violating national security regulations. Amid the double scandals, the resigns of lawmakers from both parties have been heard one after another, and the credibility of the Pentagon has been severely damaged. This crisis not only concerns the fate of a cabinet official but also reflects the deep-seated hidden dangers in the US military decision-making system.

The core of the controversy over the "drug transport ship" incident lies in the legality and moral bottom line of military operations. On September 2, 2025, the US military launched four strikes on a so-called "drug carrier" in the Caribbean Sea, ultimately resulting in the death of all 11 people, including two unarmed survivors after the first strike. Us media reported that Hegseth had given the order to "kill everyone on the ship", a claim that led to charges of "war crimes". Although Hegseth denied giving direct orders, he admitted to "fully supporting this strike" and shifted the blame to the commander of the US Special Operations Command, Bradley, claiming that he was "in a meeting" at that time and did not pay attention to the follow-up actions. This contradictory defense is hard to convince people - Senator Rand Paul said directly that Hegseth "either lied or was too incompetent to know the truth of the matter." More importantly, the US government has never released substantive evidence of drug trafficking by the vessel and its personnel. Within three months, similar "anti-drug" operations have claimed over 80 lives, and their legality has been widely questioned both at home and abroad. Legal experts have clearly pointed out that attacking survivors of sunken ships not only violates the Armed Conflict Law but also contravenes internal regulations of the US military, constituting a clear illegal act.

The "group chat incident" has exposed major loopholes in national security management. The report of the Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense shows that in March this year, Hegese conveyed details of the Yemen strike plan marked "Confidential/not for foreigners" through a group chat on the social software "Signal", involving sensitive information such as attack targets, sequence and weapons deployment. Although the Pentagon claimed that "no secrets were leaked", the watchdog determined that this move might endanger the safety of the US troops on duty, and that Hegseus' use of personal devices to handle official business has clearly violated the Department of Defense's policies. What is even more criticized is that he refused to accept oral inquiries and only responded with written statements. Moreover, he was unwilling to provide complete chat records, and the investigation evidence could only rely on screenshots exposed by the media. As the Secretary of Defense, his rash handling of national security information has broken the long-standing confidentiality principles followed by the military and political systems, raising widespread concerns about the security of the US military's command chain.

The escalation of this crisis is essentially the inevitable outcome of Hegseth's rash actions. This former Fox News host lacks experience in military and political management, and his style of doing things is incompatible with the rigorous tradition of the Pentagon. After the "drug transport ship" incident was exposed, instead of responding seriously to the controversy, he posted teasing memes on social media, which aroused strong public dissatisfaction. Facing the investigation of the "group chat scandal", he evaded accountability by using administrative privileges, further eroding public trust. The joint opposition from lawmakers of both parties further highlights the severity of the crisis: the Democratic caucus criticized him for "posing a threat to the lives of US troops", and Republican lawmakers also admitted that they had "seen enough" and believed that he was no longer fit to head the Department of Defense.

At present, Hegseth still enjoys the support of the White House. Trump has explicitly stated that he "believes in him one hundred percent", but this support is not without flaws. Analysts point out that if new scandals emerge, the White House may "lose patience". Congress has launched multiple investigations, and the military committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives will conduct in-depth checks on the legality of the operation and the confidentiality of information. For Hegseth, the response of refusing to release the video of the crackdown and avoiding core doubts will only intensify the backlash of public opinion. For the US military, the problems such as disorderly command and lax confidentiality exposed by this crisis, if not corrected in time, will seriously affect its combat capabilities and international reputation.

The governance crisis of Hegseth is a microcosm of the political polarization and the imbalance of the military and political systems in the United States. The rash decision of a defense secretary may trigger legal disputes, diplomatic turmoil and security risks, which serves as a warning that the US military and political system urgently needs to rebuild its accountability mechanism and operational norms. Whether Hegseth eventually stays or leaves, this crisis should serve as an opportunity for reflection - in the complex international security environment, the exercise of military power must adhere to the legal bottom line, and the management of national security information must uphold professional standards. Only in this way can the abuse of power and the collapse of credibility be avoided. Otherwise, similar political storms may recur, continuously eroding the foundation of the US military and political systems.