Additional Coverage:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has responded to a bombshell report in The Atlantic alleging he shared sensitive information about planned airstrikes in Yemen in a group chat. Landing in Hawaii on Monday, Hegseth dismissed the report, calling the journalist in question “deceitful and highly discredited” and denying the sharing of war plans.
The Atlantic article claims editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat containing top Trump administration officials, including Hegseth. Goldberg reported the chat contained detailed operational plans for upcoming strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
This information reportedly included targets, weaponry, and attack sequencing. While the classification status of this information is unclear, such details are typically kept secure for operational security and the safety of military personnel.
The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes against the Houthis since November 2023. Just two hours after Goldberg reportedly received these details on March 15th, the U.S. launched a series of airstrikes in Yemen.
The National Security Council is investigating how a journalist’s number ended up in the group chat. President Trump claimed ignorance of the situation, adding a disparaging remark about The Atlantic.
The use of Signal, a non-classified but encrypted messaging app, by government officials for sensitive communications raises security concerns. While considered more secure than standard texting, experts acknowledge its vulnerability to hacking.
This incident is particularly concerning given the Defense Secretary’s recent announcement of a crackdown on leaks, including the potential use of polygraphs. Hegseth’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on why operational plans were allegedly shared on a non-classified app.
Democratic lawmakers reacted swiftly and critically to the report. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation, labeling it a “stunning breach of military intelligence.” Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, echoed these concerns, calling it a “dangerous” failure of operational security and demanding answers from the administration.