Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acknowledged during a heated congressional hearing that the Pentagon has developed contingency plans for potential military invasions of both Greenland and Panama, if deemed necessary under emerging global threats, according to CTV News.
Hegseth, pressed repeatedly by lawmakers about the use of private messaging apps like Signal to coordinate military operations, declined to give direct answers, including on the topic of classified information. When asked directly whether the Department of Defense had plans to forcibly take control of Greenland or Panama, Hegseth did not deny the possibility.
“It is our responsibility at the Department of Defense to prepare for every possible scenario,” Hegseth said multiple times, refusing to clearly confirm or deny the invasion plans.
The comments immediately raised alarm across both sides of the aisle. Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee were visibly frustrated by Hegseth’s evasiveness, especially veterans now serving in Congress who demanded straightforward “yes or no” answers regarding sensitive military matters.
In one notable exchange, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington questioned whether the U.S. military would resort to force to acquire Greenland or Panama. Hegseth repeated his stance on contingency planning, prompting concern from even Republican members present at the hearing.
“This hearing isn’t about whether we plan to invade Greenland, is it?” asked Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio. When Hegseth gave the same non-committal reply, Turner responded bluntly, “I sincerely hope that’s not your official testimony.”
Hegseth later added: “We value our cooperation with Greenland and intend to support its defense against any potential threats.” However, he did not deny the existence of active military planning.
The issue has drawn further attention due to Hegseth’s alleged use of private Signal groups to discuss U.S. strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels, reportedly including discussions with non-government individuals. Critics argue that such use may have violated rules around handling classified information.
Hegseth defended himself by stating that the information he shared — including strike timing and weapons used in a March operation — was not classified. However, Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts and former Marine, challenged that statement, saying, “You either knew it was classified, or you should have.”
A Pentagon inspector general report on Hegseth’s use of Signal is reportedly underway and expected soon.
The situation has further been complicated by past remarks from former President Donald Trump, who has previously expressed a strong desire to bring Greenland under U.S. control, calling it a strategic and resource-rich location. Those aspirations were flatly rejected by Greenlandic officials at the time.
Despite the controversy, Hegseth concluded the session stating he continues to serve “at the pleasure of the President,” refusing to clarify whether he would take responsibility if any classified information was mishandled.