DOJO — A Pentagon watchdog review has found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Defense Department policies when he shared sensitive information about a planned U.S. military operation in Yemen on the Signal messaging app. The inspector general concluded that the material he posted—including strike timing and aircraft details—was originally marked secret and could have endangered troops if intercepted.
What the IG Found
The Defense Department Inspector General investigated the March incident for more than eight months. According to individuals who reviewed the report, investigators determined that Hegseth shared sensitive military information on an encrypted but unclassified Signal group chat. The material mirrored operational details sent to him moments earlier through an official secure system by Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, then head of U.S. Central Command.
The IG said the information included aircraft movements, target timing, and other elements that could have placed U.S. fighter pilots at risk if foreign adversaries gained access.
Investigators also concluded that Hegseth violated DOD regulations by using his personal phone and a non-government app for official, high-risk communications.
Did Hegseth Declassify the Information?
Hegseth declined an interview with investigators but provided a brief written statement. He argued that he shared only non-dangerous details and maintained that he had the authority to declassify information.
The inspector general agreed that, as secretary of defense, Hegseth is an “original classification authority.” However, the report did not determine whether he formally declassified the information before posting it to Signal.
Because Hegseth provided only a limited number of Signal messages, investigators relied heavily on screenshots the public saw after an Atlantic magazine editor was mistakenly added to the group chat.
Political Reactions
The White House and Pentagon insist the review clears Hegseth of wrongdoing. “Total exoneration. Case closed,” Hegseth posted on X. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that stance, saying operational security “was not compromised.”
But lawmakers reviewing the report disagree on key points.
Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democratic member of the Armed Services Committee, said the report clearly shows Hegseth violated department rules. “It’s not too hard to see how our adversaries can get that information and pass it on,” Kelly warned. “He needs to make sure he doesn’t do this again.”
The classified report has been delivered to congressional oversight committees, though no public version has been released.
Broader Scrutiny on Hegseth
The report emerges as Hegseth faces new questions over a separate issue: a controversial second strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean that was reportedly already burning after a first attack. Survivors were present, raising concerns among military legal experts about the rules governing such operations.
Hegseth has dismissed the criticism, attributing the confusion to the “fog of war.” Still, the episode adds to mounting scrutiny over his leadership as the Pentagon undergoes dramatic changes, including personnel shake-ups and a rebranding to the Department of War.
