Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, already under intense scrutiny over allegations he was involved in a possible war crime, is now facing renewed attention on a separate controversy from early in his tenure. According to analysts, the long-dormant “Signalgate” scandal is set to resurface just as pressure on Hegseth reaches a new peak.

During a discussion on MS NOW’s Morning Joe, co-host Jonathan Lemire noted that the Pentagon inspector general’s completed report on Signalgate has been delivered to lawmakers and is expected to be released publicly in the coming days. The investigation stems from Hegseth’s decision to use the encrypted messaging app Signal to share details of classified military plans — a decision sharply criticized at the time for its potential to endanger U.S. personnel.

“A bad week for Pete Hegseth? It’s about to get worse,” Lemire said, reminding viewers of the earlier incident. Co-host Joe Scarborough added that Hegseth had used a public-facing communication channel in a way that risked exposing sensitive operational information, likening the moment to a dramatic misstep straight out of a political thriller. “You just couldn’t do anything more reckless or irresponsible,” Scarborough said, emphasizing the danger posed to service members preparing for a mission.

Lemire noted that the release of the inspector general’s report will add to the mounting challenges already surrounding Hegseth, who is now navigating fallout from allegations related to an alleged unlawful military strike in the Caribbean.

Turning to contributor Richard Haass, Lemire asked whether this combination of controversies might prompt the Trump administration to reconsider Hegseth’s position. Haass agreed that the moment represents a serious inflection point, but noted that the administration appears determined not to repeat the rapid turnover seen during Trump’s first term. “He’ll dig in as long as he can — until he can’t,” Haass said.

New report could deepen trouble for Hegseth amid war-crime scrutiny