Protocols Violated

A Pentagon report found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated security protocols by sharing sensitive military information on Signal.

Context

The Pentagon's inspector general launched an investigation in April after The Atlantic reported that a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat on Signal – an encrypted messaging app – where senior US officials discussed US military strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. The inquiry was requested by top Senate Armed Services Committee leaders from both parties.

Report Findings

The inspector general released a report on Wednesday that found Hegseth violated Defense Department policies and put US personnel at risk by using his personal device for official business. The report found that the operational details he shared would have posed a risk to troops and the mission if intercepted.