Defense Secretary Pit Hegset may have endangered American service members when he transmitted secret plans for strikes against the Houthis in Yemen via the Signal messenger app, CNN reported, citing four sources familiar with a report by the Pentagon's inspector general.
Details of the incident
In March of this year Hegset used the messenger to transmit highly sensitive military information. The messages contained specific data about planned strikes in real time. One of them even indicated the exact moment the first bombs would be dropped.
The Pentagon chief sent this information to a group chat that included his wife, brother, personal lawyer and other senior officials. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was accidentally added to the conversation.
According to sources, some materials in the messages came from U.S. Central Command documents that were classified at the time of transmission. That means foreign nationals should not have had access to them.
Investigation findings
The inspector general found that Hegset transmitted confidential data to unauthorized individuals and failed to preserve the correspondence in accordance with federal law. The report also said the secretary should not have used Signal for such purposes.
At the same time, the investigation concluded that the Pentagon chief has the authority to declassify information. Hegset himself claimed he made an operational decision to share the data, although there is no documentary evidence to support that.
The secretary declined an interview with the inspector general and submitted his account in writing. The unclassified version of the report was released on Thursday; the classified version was sent to Congress on Tuesday evening.
Pentagon response
A Pentagon spokesperson dismissed the allegations:
The inspector general's review fully vindicates Secretary Hegset and confirms what we have known from the start: no classified information was transmitted. This matter is resolved and the case is closed
– Pentagon spokesperson
A source familiar with Hegset's position emphasized that the secretary has the unilateral authority to declassify information. In his view, that removes any allegations of wrongdoing.
Political consequences
The release of the findings could heighten lawmakers' concerns from both parties about Hegset's actions. Earlier, a senator demanded his resignation, saying he posed a threat to national security.
The White House denied reports that it was seeking a replacement for the Pentagon chief. Hegset himself sharply criticized the media and the sources who provided the information to journalists.
Context
In April 2025 it became known about the incident involving the transmission of data about the March strike on the Houthis. Initially Hegset shared details in a chat with family and his lawyer, and later accidentally added a journalist to the conversation while discussing another strike.
The report also noted that senior Pentagon officials need better training on security protocols. The investigation found that the department head shared similar details about military operations in Yemen with several other unauthorized individuals.
