Top US defence officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, are at the centre of a brewing security scandal after sensitive operational details were reportedly shared over Signal, an encrypted messaging platform.
The messages, which concerned forthcoming strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, were inadvertently sent to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who had been mistakenly added to the group chat.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of unsecured communication tools by President Donald Trump’s national security team, particularly by Hegseth, whose previous experience was as a Fox News host before his appointment.
Pete Hegseth texted Yemen strike plans
The leak surfaced after Goldberg revealed that he had been included in a group chat titled “Houthi PC small group” on Signal.
The group, initiated by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, included high-level US officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to Goldberg, Hegseth shared details of the military strike on March 15 at 11:44 am, about two hours before the US launched airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The information reportedly included operational plans such as strike sequencing, target locations, and weapons to be deployed.
Signal, while encrypted, is not classified and is not approved for transmitting military plans, making the exchange a potential violation of protocols related to national defence information.
The Atlantic withheld some of the more sensitive content.
Trump, who was questioned about the breach hours after publication, claimed he was unaware of it and later mocked the report, amplifying a satirical take on social media.
He criticised The Atlantic as “not much of a magazine” and suggested its readership was too small to constitute a real breach.
Fallout continues as Pete Hegseth defends
Pete Hegseth responded to the revelation shortly after landing in Hawaii for his first official trip to the Indo-Pacific.
When asked by reporters about the messages, he denied that “war plans” were shared and dismissed Goldberg as a “discredited” journalist.
He made no effort to explain why Signal was used or how the journalist had been added to a private conversation involving national security strategy.
Since assuming the role, he has vowed to crack down on leaks, reportedly considering polygraph tests for personnel suspected of unauthorised disclosures.
Meanwhile, The Atlantic’s Goldberg described the experience as unprecedented.
The chat reportedly included casual emojis and celebratory remarks from senior officials like Waltz and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe after the strike.
Goldberg eventually left the group voluntarily after recognising the serious implications of the ongoing conversation.
Lawmakers demand answers
The breach has triggered strong reactions on Capitol Hill.
Senator Jack Reed said the situation represented one of the “most egregious failures” of operational security in recent memory.
He criticised the use of unsecured channels to discuss military operations and said he would seek immediate answers from the administration.
Senator Chuck Schumer echoed these concerns, calling the incident a “stunning breach” and demanding a full investigation.
Connecticut Representative Jim Himes, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said if a lower-level official had done what Hegseth did, they would likely face criminal investigation and loss of clearance.
Some Republicans also acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker called for bipartisan scrutiny, while Senate Majority Whip John Thune said he wanted to “run it to the ground” to understand how it happened.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson took a more lenient stance, suggesting those involved were simply doing their jobs.
The Espionage Act governs the handling of national defence information and includes clauses about gross negligence.
Though it is still unclear whether the information Hegseth shared was formally classified, the use of an unclassified app is expected to be a key focus of any investigation.
Internal debate and platform use reveal policy contradictions
Aside from the leak, the conversation on Signal revealed an internal policy debate among Trump’s top national security officials.
Vice President JD Vance reportedly questioned the rationale behind the timing of the Yemen strike, expressing concern that it could cause a “moderate to severe spike in oil prices” and disproportionately benefit Europe rather than the US.
He also raised doubts about whether the operation aligned with Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
Hegseth reportedly responded to Vance with strong words against European allies, saying, “I think we should go.”
This revealed not only internal disagreement but also the informal and combative tone used within the group, despite the high stakes.
The choice to use Signal, a platform run by a nonprofit and not approved for classified communication, has raised questions.
During the Biden administration, Signal use was permitted under strict circumstances for logistical alerts or meeting coordination, not operational planning.
According to former national security officials, Biden’s senior leadership never used Signal for military strategy discussions.
Critics argue that the Trump administration’s reliance on unofficial tools and underqualified appointees, like Hegseth, has created risks that go beyond political optics.
Although the breach is under review by the National Security Council, no formal disciplinary measures have been announced yet.
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