Signal threat: Pentagon rules violated
In March 2025, US Secretary of War Pete Heggett posted classified information about airstrikes on Yemeni Houthi positions to a group of journalists on the Signal messenger, putting American troops and the ongoing mission at risk. CNN and AP reported this, citing a report by the Pentagon chief inspector.
The final document of the eight-month investigation stated that although Hegset had the right to reduce the level of information confidentiality, he "violated the Pentagon's internal rules" because he used his private device for his official duties. Therefore, the inspector recommended additional training for the department's employees.
Hegset declined to speak personally with the inspector, but in a written statement, he stated that in the chat, he only mentioned details that, in his opinion, did not jeopardize the mission. For example, he wrote the flight time of military aircraft and the start time of bombing in two different chats before the pilots took off.
Justification and high-level support
The Pentagon sided with Heggett. War Office spokesman Sean Parnell said: "The Chief Inspector's investigation fully exonerates Minister Heggett and confirms that no confidential information has been transmitted. This issue has been resolved." The White House added that US President Donald Trump "supports the Secretary of War."
A journalist who joined by chance
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed on March 24 that he had been accidentally dropped into a chat on Signal, where high-ranking officials were discussing the strikes in Yemen. There were 18 people in the chat, including Hegset, Whitkoff, and National Security Advisors. The publication published a full transcript of the correspondence, since, in their opinion, high-ranking officials, including the directors of the CIA and National Intelligence, tried to diminish the significance of the event.
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