- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen through a private Signal chat that included family members and his personal attorney. Sources said he used his personal phone to relay jet flight schedules before the March 15 mission.
- The Pentagon inspector general opened a review into Hegseth’s use of nonsecure messaging apps.
- Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns, while Hegseth and the White House denied he shared classified information.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a private Signal messaging group to share operational details about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. The group included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, none of whom had official roles requiring access to military strike information, according to multiple sources familiar with the chat.
The March 15 messages reportedly included flight schedules for F/A-18 jets tasked with targeting Houthi positions. The New York Times reported Hegseth sent the messages using his personal phone.
The existence of this chat surfaced shortly after The Atlantic reported that Hegseth shared similar strike details in a separate Signal thread that mistakenly included a journalist.
What prompted concerns over security?
The newly revealed Signal chat, named “Defense | Team Huddle,” originated in January before Hegseth’s confirmation as defense secretary, according to The New York Times. Although initially used for administrative communication, the group remained active after his confirmation and later included details of the Yemen operation.
The disclosure has raised new questions about Hegseth’s leadership, especially as the Pentagon investigates internal leaks.
The Defense Department’s acting inspector general has launched a review of whether Hegseth violated Department of Defense policy on the use of commercial messaging platforms.
What has been the response from the Pentagon and Congress?
A Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters that they did not share any classified information and dismissed the report as politically motivated. The White House also said Hegseth did not share classified information.
Several Democratic lawmakers have called on President Donald Trump to remove Hegseth. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tammy Duckworth said his actions put national security at risk.
Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, also voiced concern over Hegseth’s adherence to protocol.
How has Hegseth responded?
Hegseth and his allies have defended the communications as informal and denied any wrongdoing. Officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, said during a recent Senate hearing that the chats did not include classified information.
Still, defense experts and former officials argued that details like flight schedules and launch times typically fall under classified military planning.
