Hegseth put US pilots at risk by using Signal to discuss strikes: Report

The Department of Defenses Inspector General (IG) released a report Thursday revealing that Secretary Pete Hegseth compromised troop safety and violated DoD rules by using his personal phone to transmit sensitive information about an upcoming strike on Houthi targets in Yemen. Lawmakers were first briefed on the findings Wednesday, intensifying criticism of Hegseths leadership, especially regarding his oversight of maritime strikes in the Caribbean.

The IG report emphasizes that Hegseths actions exposed service members to potential harm by bypassing official channels for classified communications. It states, The Secretary sent nonpublic DoD information identifying the number and timing of U.S. aircraft missions over hostile territory via an unsecure, unauthorized network approximately two to four hours before the strikes. The report warns that using a personal phone and the Signal app to share nonpublic information could jeopardize sensitive DoD operations and personnel.

Hegseth has the authority to declassify information and claimed he had done so before sharing detailsincluding timelines, targets, and weaponsin a Signal group chat with senior Trump administration officials and, unintentionally, an editor from The Atlantic. The IG report noted that while Hegseth can declassify information, he must follow official procedures.

Regardless of classification status, the report concluded that sending details through informal channels risked interception and endangering U.S. forces. Even if the Secretary believed the information posed no risk, if it reached adversaries, Houthi forces could have countered U.S. operations or repositioned assets to avoid strikes. Although the events did not occur, the actions created a security risk that could have led to failed missions and potential harm to pilots.

The report drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting concerns about Hegseths suitability for office. Representative Adam Smith, D-Wash., emphasized that Hegseths actions violated basic procedural rules and placed troops in danger, adding that no procedural reforms had been made to prevent recurrence.

Hegseth declined to be interviewed by the IG and could not provide all Signal chat messages, many of which were set to auto-delete. This forced the IG to rely on The Atlantic for the complete transcript, which the publication initially withheld due to potential classification issues.

The Pentagon defended Hegseth, claiming the IG review cleared him of wrongdoing. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that no classified information was shared and considered the matter closed. However, some lawmakers, including former Army officer Rep. Eugene Vindman, argued that sharing the content demonstrated poor judgment and a disregard for operational security protocols designed to protect national security.

Author: Zoe Harrison