Hegseth's Private Information Leaked Online Amid Signal Chat Scandal
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s private contact information was found online, amidst a broader scandal involving leaked Signal chats about U.S. plans to attack Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
In a significant security breach, private contact details of top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have been exposed online. This revelation comes in the wake of a Signal chat scandal involving plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, which was leaked earlier this year. German news outlet Der Spiegel reported that its staff discovered phone numbers, email addresses, and even passwords of high-ranking officials, including Hegseth, using commercial people search engines and hacked customer data available on the internet. The information linked to Hegseth was reported to be in use recently, underscoring the severity of the breach.
Hegseth has categorically denied sharing classified information in the Signal group chat on March 26, 2025. However, the exposure of his personal details, including an email address used just days before the report, raises serious concerns about the security of sensitive information. Der Spiegel also noted that some of the compromised accounts were linked to social media profiles and were used to create accounts on apps like Dropbox and those tracking running data. Furthermore, WhatsApp and Signal accounts associated with other implicated officials, such as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, were reportedly deactivated following inquiries from the outlet.
The leak has sparked a broader discussion about the vulnerability of government officials to cyber threats and the need for stronger data protection measures. President Donald Trump has pointed fingers at Waltz for the scandal, while officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the White House have emphasized that the compromised accounts and passwords are nearly a decade old and have been changed multiple times. Despite these assurances, the Department of Defense has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on how such sensitive information could be accessed and what steps can be taken to prevent future breaches. The incident not only threatens national security but also highlights the ongoing challenges in safeguarding personal and classified data in the digital age.