Topline
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s improper use of the Signal group chat to discuss sensitive military plans earlier this year could have endangered troops, the Pentagon inspector general determined, according to multiple reports.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a cabinet meeting at the White House on December 2, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Hegseth shared plans for a military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen in March with unauthorized individuals and did not preserve the communications as federal law requires, multiple outlets reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the report.
The information Hegseth shared stemmed from an email initially marked classified, the watchdog reportedly found.
Hegseth had the authority to declassify the information before disseminating it, but it’s unclear if he did so.
In addition to Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the chat with top U.S. officials, Hegseth shared similar military strike details with other unauthorized individuals, the inspector general found, according to CNN.
CNN and The New York Times reported previously that Hegseth discussed military operations in a second chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer.
What To Watch For
The report was delivered to members of Congress on Tuesday and is set to be made public Thursday.