A shocking revelation has emerged from Washington, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly texted details of a planned U.S. military strike in Yemen just two hours before execution. The information, released by The Atlantic, has sparked intense backlash, raising concerns over national security and the use of commercial messaging apps for classified discussions.
The Security Breach: A Text That Could Have Changed Everything
According to screenshots published by The Atlantic, Hegseth shared the start time of an attack targeting a high-ranking Houthi militant leader on March 15. This detail, typically held in the strictest confidence, was allegedly sent via the encrypted app Signal—a platform not designed for secure military communication.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally included in the Signal chat alongside key figures such as:
- National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
- Vice President JD Vance
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
The leak has raised critical questions about how such sensitive information was mishandled and whether Hegseth had the authority to disclose or declassify these plans.
Democratic Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The fallout in Washington has been swift. Democratic leaders are demanding that members of Trump’s national security team be fired for what they view as an egregious breach of military secrecy.
Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) voiced his frustration during a House Intelligence Committee hearing, stating:
“It’s by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now.”
Himes and other critics fear that if Houthi leaders had intercepted the information, they could have escaped or moved to areas where civilian casualties would make a strike impossible.
Did Hegseth Declassify the Information?
The Pentagon’s official stance on the matter remains vague. While Hegseth denies texting war plans, the debate over whether he had the authority to declassify such details is ongoing.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before the House Intelligence Committee, affirming that Hegseth, as Secretary of Defense, had the authority to classify or declassify military information. However, when pressed on whether he had done so before sending the text, Hegseth deflected:
“Nobody’s texting war plans, and that is all I have to say about that.”
The Fallout: National Security Risks & Political Ramifications
Beyond the political uproar, this incident has renewed scrutiny over Hegseth’s appointment. His narrow Senate confirmation was already controversial, with questions about his experience and judgment. Now, the exposure of top-secret military details over an unsecured chat app has escalated concerns over his leadership.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for setting up the chat but insists that it was only meant for “unclassified coordination”—raising further questions about why a journalist was in the group and how security protocols failed so spectacularly.
FAQs
1. What information did Pete Hegseth allegedly text?
Hegseth reportedly texted the start time of a U.S. military strike targeting a Houthi leader in Yemen just two hours before the attack.
2. Why is this leak so serious?
Military operations rely on secrecy. If the Houthis had intercepted this information, they could have escaped or relocated to civilian areas, making the strike impossible.
3. Did The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, receive classified information?
Goldberg was reportedly accidentally included in a Signal chat with top Trump administration officials discussing military operations. He later published details of the conversation.
4. Did Hegseth have the authority to declassify the information?
As Secretary of Defense, he holds classification authority, but it’s unclear if he officially declassified the information before sharing it.
5. What has the Pentagon said about the controversy?
The Pentagon has defended the strike’s effectiveness but has not confirmed whether Hegseth’s texts violated security protocols.