The investigation centers on Hegseth's sharing of military strike details in Signal chats, including one with his wife and another with top national security officials and, inadvertently, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
Investigators are examining who wrote the messages, whether the information was classified, and if there were instructions to delete them.
Hegseth is scheduled to testify before Congress, where he is expected to face questions about his handling of sensitive information and broader issues within the Pentagon.
The Defense Department had cautioned personnel about the vulnerability of Signal just a day before the strikes.
Why this matters:: The use of unsecured communication channels for sensitive military information raises concerns about national security and adherence to protocol. The investigation highlights the importance of secure communication practices within the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon's Office of Inspector General is conducting a thorough investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging app to share details about military operations. This probe was initiated following reports that Hegseth shared information about the March 15 airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in at least two Signal chat groups. One chat included Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials, while the other included Hegseth's wife, who is not a government employee.
The investigation aims to determine whether Hegseth himself wrote the messages or if staff members were responsible. It also seeks to uncover whether any classified information was shared and whether anyone was asked to delete messages. The sharing of these details occurred around the same time that Hegseth and other members of President Trump's National Security Council inadvertently shared details about the strike with the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
Hegseth has defended his actions, stating that the information shared was unclassified and informal. However, multiple current and former military officials have expressed concern that sharing such specific details before a strike took place is inappropriate and potentially dangerous. Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have suggested that Hegseth's actions could have endangered the lives of pilots involved in the airstrikes.
The use of Signal, an encrypted messaging app, is also under scrutiny. While Signal provides secure communication, it is not approved for transmitting classified information, and the Defense Department had issued a warning about its vulnerabilities just before the strikes. The investigation is ongoing, and Hegseth is expected to testify before Congress, where he will likely face tough questions about his handling of sensitive information.
Q: What is the focus of the Pentagon's investigation?
The investigation is focused on whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive military information via the Signal app and whether his staff was instructed to delete messages.
Q: Why is the use of Signal under scrutiny?
Signal is not approved for carrying classified information, and the Defense Department had cautioned personnel about its vulnerabilities.
Q: What potential consequences could Hegseth face?
Hegseth could face criticism for mishandling sensitive information and potential violations of federal record-keeping laws.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under investigation for sharing military plans on the Signal app.
The probe includes scrutiny of potential requests to delete messages, which could violate federal law.
Hegseth's actions have raised concerns about national security and the handling of classified information.
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