Senator Demands Resignation of Hegseth and Waltz Over National Security Breach
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has called for the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a reported national security breach involving a Signal text chain.
In a bold move on Tuesday, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) demanded that National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth step down from their positions. This demand follows an incident where sensitive national security discussions were allegedly mishandled over an unclassified communication platform, Signal, which also included a reporter from The Atlantic, raising serious concerns about the security of U.S. military operations planning.
The controversy erupted after it was revealed that senior U.S. officials were using Signal to discuss the U.S. operation against the Houthis in Yemen. The inclusion of a journalist in these discussions sparked outrage and led to accusations of reckless handling of sensitive information. Senator Wyden was outspoken about the severity of the breach, stating, “Obviously, my colleagues and I feel very strongly about the war planning meeting over unclassified phones. Obviously reckless, obviously dangerous, both the mishandling of classified information and the deliberate destruction of federal records or potential crimes that ought to be investigated immediately.”
The situation was further complicated during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing where Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was questioned about her involvement in the Signal chat. Gabbard insisted that no classified material was shared, a claim that was met with skepticism and demands for further transparency from committee members like Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). Despite Gabbard’s assurances, the incident has prompted a significant backlash and calls for accountability at the highest levels of government.
As the debate over the use of encrypted messaging apps like Signal in government communications continues, this incident has highlighted the challenges and risks associated with maintaining national security in the digital age. The calls for the resignation of Hegseth and Waltz underscore the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the breach.