The Department of Defense’s Inspector General has launched an investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app for discussing sensitive military operations.
Key Points at a Glance
- Secretary Hegseth is under investigation for using Signal to discuss military operations.
- The probe follows reports of a group chat detailing an airstrike in Yemen.
- Concerns focus on potential breaches of security protocols and records retention laws.
- Senators Wicker and Reed requested the investigation into these communications.
The Department of Defense’s acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, has initiated an investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding his use of the encrypted messaging application Signal for official communications. This action comes in response to a letter from Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jack Reed (D-RI), who expressed concerns about the potential misuse of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive military operations.
The issue came to light when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat where high-ranking officials, including Hegseth, discussed plans for an airstrike against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat reportedly included details such as targets, timing, and the types of aircraft involved—information typically considered classified.
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz hosted the group chat, which included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. Following the revelation, officials asserted that no rules regarding the preservation of government documents were violated, noting that some messages were set to auto-delete. They also claimed that the military plans discussed were not classified.
The use of private communication channels for official business has raised bipartisan concerns, especially given past criticisms of such practices. Reports have also emerged alleging that Waltz frequently used his personal Gmail account for government matters and established multiple private Signal groups related to official business.
In their letter, Senators Wicker and Reed highlighted the gravity of the situation: “This chat was alleged to have included classified information pertaining to sensitive military actions in Yemen. If true, this reporting raises questions as to the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know.”
The Inspector General’s investigation aims to determine the extent to which Secretary Hegseth and other Department of Defense personnel complied with policies and procedures regarding the use of commercial messaging applications for official business. The probe will also assess adherence to classification and records retention requirements. The findings of this investigation could have significant implications for the current administration’s communication practices and adherence to security protocols.
Source: The Register
