Watchdog: Signal chats violated Pentagon policy

USA TODAY

Francesca Chambers and Cybele Mayes-Osterman

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon watchdog found that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth risked the safety of American troops and their mission when he discussed a covert military operation in Yemen over the commercial messaging app Signal, but that he had the right to declassify the information, according to a person who has seen the report. The investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general was launched after Hegseth, whose formal title is secretary of Defense, shared plans for a U.S. attack on Houthi forces in Yemen on a Signal chat with other administration officials. The messages, which included the times that bombs would be dropped, were published after the fact by The Atlantic, whose editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to the group chat.

Hegseth has denied that the information he texted was “war plans” and said he had the authority to declassify

the messages.

Reuters reported the Pentagon said in a statement that the review cleared the defense secretary, comments echoed by Hegseth himself later on social media.

“No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed,” Hegseth said on X.

But if the information Hegseth shared on the chat had fallen into the hands of an adversary of the United States, it could have put the mission and service members involved in danger, according to the internal watchdog, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The watchdog found that Hegseth’s use of his personal phone violated DOD policy but maintained he had the power as Pentagon chief to declassify the information he shared, according to the report, as it was described to USA TODAY.

Investigators used screenshots of Hegseth’s messages published by The Atlantic because he did not share more than a few of his own messages with them, according to the person. He declined investigators’ requests for an interview and submitted only a written statement, saying he had the right to declassify information and the investigation by the Pentagon inspector general was not neutral, the person said.

Two redacted inspector general reports were expected to be released this week that look at the March episode.

The reports were described to multiple news outlets before their release, including CNN, Politico, CBS and The Associated Press, after they were shared with Congress.

Hegseth has been under special scrutiny because of his involvement in the chat, given his commentary on the strikes before they happened. Multiple Democratic lawmakers called for his ouster at the time.

Contributing: Reuters