The former top spokesperson at the Pentagon wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday that the Department of Defense is in “disarray” under Hegseth’s leadership.

“It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon,” John Ullyot, who served as the acting assistant to Hegseth for public affairs before resigning last week, wrote in Politico Magazine. “From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership.”

Hegseth on Monday blasted the media and “disgruntled former employees” for the latest controversy.

“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,” he said.

The White House responded to a report from NPR that said the search is underway for Hegseth’s replacement, with Leavitt calling it “total fake news.”

Rep. Don Bacon (Neb.), a swing-district Republican and key figure on the House Armed Services Committee, told Politico:

“If it’s true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it’s totally unacceptable…I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in charge.”

Democrats are demanding Hegseth resign, accusing him of leaking classified attack plans.

“Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops’ lives are endangered by his singular stupidity,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) posted on X.

• Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff Monday as Washington mourned the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 after a series of health complications.

“My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him,” said Vice President Vance, who met with the pope only a day earlier.

“Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people,” former President Obama posted on X.

The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Mike Lillis write:

“Francis’s political postures put him on a collision course with the traditionalist cardinals at the Vatican and conservative bishops around the globe. And those qualms were echoed by right-leaning Catholics across the United States, many of whom thought Francis strayed too far from the church’s long-held orthodoxies, particularly on social issues.”

More coverage here:

• Pope Francis’s death begins papal succession process: 5 things to know.

• How the Catholic leader spent his final days.

• Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope?