62% of Americans Say Hegseth Should Be Fired For Leaking War Plans

A new ResumeTemplates survey of 1,250 U.S. residents finds that a majority of Americans believe Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be fired for discussing classified military plans for U.S. strikes in Yemen in a Signal group chat. The survey also reveals Americans don’t think high-ranking officials in the Trump administration are held to the same standards as average employees who would be dismissed for much less.

6 in 10 Americans Say Hegseth Should Be Fired

When asked if Hegseth should be fired for sending messages about classified military operations in a Signal group chat that included people without security clearance, 62% of Americans say he definitely (34%) or probably (28%) should be fired. Just 22% say he probably (8%) or definitely (14%) should not, while 17% are unsure. Respondents who voted for Trump were less likely to say he should be fired, with only 25% saying he definitely should and 20% stating probably.

Similarly, 58% of Americans say Hegseth should definitely (31%) or probably (27%) resign, with only 23% opposed and 18% unsure.

7 in 10 Say a Regular Worker Would Be Fired

Asked what would happen to a worker at their company if they shared classified information, 71% say the worker would definitely (41%) or probably (30%) be fired. Just 9% say the worker probably or definitely wouldn’t be fired, while 20% are unsure.

The majority of respondents also say that everyday workers are often fired for lesser offenses — 41% strongly agree and 33% somewhat agree. Only 9% disagree, and 17% aren’t sure.

“In most at-will states, people can be fired for far less serious mistakes—employers don’t need a major infraction to let someone go,” says ResumeTemplates’ Chief Career Strategist Julia Toothacre. “When an issue involves national security or classified information, the consequences often depend on the person’s position, the sensitivity of the information, and internal relationships. High-level roles come with increased scrutiny, which makes it even more critical to be cautious about communication. At the very least, this situation raises important questions about whether clear policies are in place and what accountability measures should follow.”

Methodology: ResumeTemplates commissioned this survey via Pollfish on March 26, 2025. The survey included a representative sample of 1,250 U.S. residents. Any media inquiries can be directed to [email protected].