Pentagon Probes Defense Secretary Hegseth Over Use of Signal App for Yemen Attack Plans

The Pentagon’s inspector general has initiated an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for allegedly using the Signal app to discuss military attack plans against the Houthis in Yemen.

The investigation, prompted by a report from The Atlantic, focuses on whether Hegseth violated department policy by discussing operational plans in a private Signal chat. The probe, led by Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins, will also assess compliance with classification and records retention requirements. The inquiry was spurred by a bipartisan request from the Senate Armed Services Committee, highlighting concerns over the use of unclassified networks for sensitive military discussions.

Hegseth reportedly shared details of an offensive campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels with principal advisers of the president through a Signal chat initiated by national security adviser Michael Waltz. The chat inadvertently included Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, leading to the leak of the information. The messages disclosed plans involving F-18 fighter aircraft, MQ-9 drones, and Tomahawk cruise missiles for the strike.

Despite the controversy, Trump administration officials maintain that no classified information was shared. National security adviser Waltz emphasized on social media that the discussions did not reveal locations, sources, methods, or war plans. The use of Signal for such communications is common among government officials, often due to limited access to secure facilities.

The investigation will take place in Washington, D.C., and at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Hegseth has been asked to designate two points of contact for the probe. This incident adds to the scrutiny of communication practices within the Trump administration, especially following the dismissal of multiple inspectors general by President Trump.