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Pentagon Watchdog Finds Defense Secretary Shared Strike Plans in Signal Chat, Raising Security Concerns

The Pentagon inspector general found that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth put service members at risk by sharing operational strike details in a Signal group that included an Atlantic journalist. The report criticizes using a broadly shared messaging group for sensitive military information.

Separately, Hegseth faces scrutiny after a U.S. strike killed two survivors from an alleged Venezuelan smuggling boat; bipartisan lawmakers said a follow‑up attack on survivors would likely be illegal. Hegseth says he did not see survivors and that a Navy admiral ordered the second strike.

06:00 PM, 12/04/2025Security
Pentagon Watchdog Finds Defense Secretary Shared Strike Plans in Signal Chat, Raising Security Concerns

Pentagon Watchdog: Sharing Operational Details Put Troops At Risk

The Pentagon inspector general has concluded that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth endangered service members by posting operational details about strikes on Houthi rebels in a Signal group chat that included a journalist from The Atlantic. The watchdog said the disclosure of sensitive information in a messaging group created a risk to personnel and operations.

What the report says: The report identifies specific posts in the Signal group that contained information about planned or executed strikes. While the scope of operational harm is still being assessed, the inspector general criticized the use of an unsecured or broadly shared messaging environment for sensitive military information.

Political and public reaction: The White House has publicly defended Secretary Hegseth in recent days. At the same time, the finding comes amid heightened scrutiny of a separate U.S. strike in which two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an alleged Venezuelan drug‑smuggling boat were later killed after an initial attack. Lawmakers from both parties have said a follow‑up attack on apparent survivors would likely have been unlawful under the laws of armed conflict.

Hegseth's response: Hegseth has said he did not see any survivors and has maintained that a Navy admiral ordered the second strike. Investigations and oversight inquiries related to both the messaging disclosures and the separate strike remain ongoing.

Implications

The watchdog's findings raise broader questions about senior officials' use of messaging apps for operational discussions and the safeguards needed to protect classified or sensitive information. Congressional oversight and additional reviews could follow to determine any policy or disciplinary actions.

Note: The facts above summarize the inspector general's findings and the related controversy; inquiries are continuing and additional details may emerge as investigations progress.

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