Pentagon Watchdog: Defense Secretary’s Signal Use Put Troops at Risk

An unclassified report from the Pentagon Inspector General concludes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered U.S. troops and mission objectives by sending operational military details through the commercial app Signal. The report also reveals he declined to fully cooperate with investigators examining his actions.

The probe began after Hegseth shared information regarding planned airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this year. A reporter from The Atlantic was accidentally included in a Signal message chain about the attack plans, prompting concerns about a breach of operational security.

According to the report, Hegseth transmitted nonpublic details about strike timing and aircraft deployment from his personal phone two to four hours before the mission. The Inspector General found that if the information had fallen into the hands of adversaries, American pilots and the operation could have been put at risk.

Department officials insisted Wednesday that the report clears Hegseth of wrongdoing, citing his authority to determine classifications. However, watchdog findings say his actions violated Defense Department policy, which prohibits the use of personal devices and unapproved messaging apps for classified or sensitive information.

The report also states that Hegseth refused an in-person interview and did not provide his personal phone to investigators. Experts say such a lack of cooperation is highly unusual for a defense secretary.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans offered mixed reactions, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledging the incident as a mistake but noting Hegseth continues to serve at the president’s discretion.

Despite the controversy, Pentagon officials maintain national security was not compromised. The Inspector General report, however, stresses the unnecessary risks created by the messaging decisions, underscoring the importance of secure communications in active military operations.

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.