Pentagon IG: Hegseth Shared Information Matching USCENTCOM's SECRET/NOFORN Designation on Signal

Pentagon Inspector General Finds Hegseth Shared Sensitive Operational Details on Signal

The Pentagon's inspector general concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed information in a private Signal group chat earlier this year that matched operational material the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) had classified as SECRET/NOFORN, a designation that restricts dissemination to U.S. personnel and excludes foreign nationals and allies. The IG warned that using a personal device for official Department of Defense business "risks potential compromise of sensitive DoD information, which could cause harm to DoD personnel and mission objectives."

What the Report Found

The IG's review — including an unredacted report released Thursday after a classified version was provided to Congress — concluded some messages Hegseth sent from his personal phone on March 15, 2025, matched operational movement information USCENTCOM had labeled SECRET/NOFORN. The report noted that such operational aircraft movement information is, under USCENTCOM guidance, typically classified SECRET.

"Using a personal cell phone to conduct official business and send nonpublic DoD information through Signal risks potential compromise of sensitive DoD information," the inspector general wrote.

Access And Evidence Limitations

Hegseth declined an in-person interview with the IG and responded to questions in writing. He also did not provide his personal phone for inspection. His office provided some messages that matched reporting in The Atlantic but said a number of messages had auto-deleted before investigators captured the phone data because of chat settings. The IG was told Hegseth posted the same information in other Signal chats and requested copies; without access to his device, the IG said it could not verify whether those additional chats also contained sensitive or classified material.

Operational Risk And Subsequent Actions

Investigators warned that if foreign adversaries had intercepted the Signal messages, U.S. service members and mission objectives could have been endangered. The timing of the disclosures drew scrutiny after The Atlantic published the chat; within a day, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with Somalia's government, carried out airstrikes near the Golis Mountains that it said killed multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives.

CBS News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records about the March 25 Somalia airstrike; AFRICOM responded that releasing similar operational details would "foreseeably harm national security" and remain properly classified under Executive Order 13526. That determination was signed by Marine Maj. Gen. Matthew Trollinger, chief of staff to AFRICOM commander Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson.

Responses

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the IG review amounted to a "total exoneration," and Hegseth also called the review a "total exoneration," writing on social media that "no classified information" was shared. The White House said the report "affirms what the Administration has said from the beginning — no classified information was leaked, and operational security was not compromised."

Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence panels called for Hegseth's resignation. Sen. Mark Warner said the IG's reference to multiple Signal chats showed a pattern of "recklessness and poor judgment." Rep. Jim Himes called Hegseth's conduct "a fireable offense," criticizing his refusal to provide a device or sit for an interview. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Senate Armed Services Committee member and veteran, called the case "a jaw-dropping breach of our national security" and argued that sharing specific timing and movement information during an operation warned potential adversaries and endangered aircraft.

Context And Classification Notes

The report stresses two classification markers: SECRET — which the U.S. government says denotes information that, if disclosed without authorization, could cause serious damage to national security — and NOFORN — which prohibits disclosure to foreign nationals and non-U.S. entities. While the secretary of defense has declassification authority, the IG's analysis focused on whether the messages matched material already classified SECRET/NOFORN by USCENTCOM.

Looking Ahead

The IG's findings have intensified congressional scrutiny and prompted public debate over appropriate channels for sharing operational information and the security risks of using encrypted consumer messaging apps for official military matters. Investigators noted limits posed by unavailable devices and auto-deleted messages, and lawmakers are calling for follow-up oversight.

Key takeaway: The IG found that Hegseth forwarded information on a personal device that matched USCENTCOM's SECRET/NOFORN material, creating potential operational risk; the secretary and administration dispute the characterization, and congressional leaders are demanding additional accountability.