Investigation finds Hegseth's use of Signal app in Yemen strikes could have harmed US forces
The results of a long-awaited probe carried out by the Pentagon's inspector general showed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth put US forces at risk by using the chat app Signal to discuss plans for air strikes on Yemen earlier this year.
The findings were released publicly in a report on Thursday.
The report said Hegseth "created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed US mission objectives and potential harm to US pilots".
His use of "a personal cell phone to conduct official business and send non-public DoD information through Signal risks potential compromise of sensitive DoD information, which could cause harm to DoD personnel and mission objectives".
"DoD" refers to the Department of Defence, which was the agency's former name before US President Donald Trump changed it to the Department of War in September.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
"Based on our review, we concluded that some information from the secretary sent from his personal cell phone on Signal on March 15, 2025, matched the operational information USCENTCOM sent and classified as SECRET/NOFORN," the report said.
"USCENTCOM" is the US Central Command, which is the hub for all US military operations in the Middle East.
"SECRET" means the information is classified, with the caveat that the secretary of war has the mandate to declassify it.
"NOFORN" indicates that no non-US individuals may view the material.
The report did not indicate that Hegseth actually revealed classified information when he should not have, which had been the core concern of his critics as the investigation played out.
On Wednesday evening, Hegseth posted to his X account: "No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed. Houthis bombed into submission. Thank you for your attention to this IG report."
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) did not view the report as an exoneration of Hegseth's conduct.
“Pete Hegseth’s incompetence isn’t just a disgrace - it’s a major national security threat that puts our troops in harm’s way. Hegseth’s conduct has proved time and again that putting a Fox News host in charge of the world’s largest military was one of Donald Trump’s most reckless and dangerous decisions,” the DNC's rapid response director, Kendall Witmer, said in an emailed statement.
'Signalgate'
The White House itself confirmed in March that a US journalist was accidentally included in a group chat between Trump administration officials that discussed potentially classified details about strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
That was how the chat, now dubbed "Signalgate", came to be leaked.
The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, announced he was given advance notice of the US strikes on the Houthis in Yemen on 15 March in a personal essay for the magazine.
He later published screenshots of the chat to prove his claims.
Goldberg said he was first notified of the upcoming strikes on a group chat on the encrypted messaging platform Signal, which included Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance.
He said, “I knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. Pete Hegseth had texted me the war plan at 11:44 am. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.”
Goldberg added that Hegseth’s post contained “operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing”.
Goldberg said he had initially received a connection request on Signal from national security advisor Michael Waltz on 11 March and was immediately concerned someone was masquerading as Waltz and that he was being entrapped before accepting the request.
Two days later, he received a notice that he was being added to a Signal chat group called the “Houthi PC small group.”
Goldberg said that "PC" stands for “principals committee” and generally refers to a group of the most senior national security officials, including the secretaries of defence, state, and the treasury, as well as the director of the CIA.
Waltz soon resigned from his post over the scandal, but has since been installed as the US ambassador to the United Nations in New York City.
Anees Alasbahi, Yemen's health ministry spokesperson, regularly provides casualty updates on his X account. Just hours after the 15 March US air strikes discussed in the Signal messages, Alasbahi said the bombs fell on civilian and residential areas in the capital.
He said they struck Sanaa, Sa'ada Governorate, al-Bayda, and Rada'a, and that most of the dead and wounded - over 100 - were women and children.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
