New Delhi, April 21 -- The White House has initiated the process of searching for a new Secretary of Defense, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, NPR reported.

This move comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to face mounting controversy related to the leak of sensitive military information.

The news report stated that that the same official confirmed that Hegseth shared details of the US military's planned strikes in Yemen with his family members-his wife and brother-via a private Signal chat on his personal phone.

It is further stated that this disclosure occurred shortly after Hegseth was briefed by a senior US military official on the mission.

Hegseth, who has been in the role of the Pent...