US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth potentially compromised the safety of US troops when he used the encrypted messaging app Signal earlier this year to share highly sensitive plans for military strikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, CNN reported, citing four sources familiar with the undercover inspector general (IG) investigation.
According to the news outlet, the IG report concluded that real-time sharing of operational details via Signal “could have compromised US troops and mission objectives.”
However, the implications of the revelation remain unclear. The news outlet, citing two sources, said the IG acknowledged that Hegseth had the authority to declassify the information. Hegseth reportedly claimed he made an “operational decision in the moment” to share the plans — although investigators found no documentation of such a decision.
The unclassified version of the IG report is expected to be released on Thursday (December 4). The classified report was sent to Congress on Tuesday night.
Real-time strike details shared in group chat
Messages sent from Hegseth’s Signal account to the group chat contained specific real-time updates on planned US military strikes.
It’s still unclear whether Hegseth properly declassified the material before sharing it with top Trump officials — and a reporter, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, who happened to be added to the chat.
IG: Hegseth shouldn’t have used Signal
The IG’s findings are part of a broader review of Hegseth’s use of the encrypted app.
The report said Hegseth “should not have used Signal” to transmit sensitive military information and that senior Defense Department officials require better training on information-handling protocols, the news outlet said, citing sources.
Unauthorized recipients
In addition to potential operational risks, the IG also reportedly found that Hegseth shared sensitive and classified details with unauthorized individuals.
One Signal group chat that received classified updates included several senior Trump officials and, unwittingly, Goldberg. Another Signal chat included Hegseth’s wife, brother and personal attorney.
Explore possible uses of his device by others
Investigators were also looking into whether someone other than Hegseth could have posted the messages to the Signal chat — dubbed the “PC Houthi Small Group” — or whether others had access to his phone, CNN reported.
