A simple mistake may have exposed one of the U.S. military’s most sensitive discussions. A journalist claims he was mistakenly added to a private group chat where senior officials allegedly discussed classified airstrike details.
Now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces tough questions about a possible security breach.
A Signal Chat, A Journalist, and a National Security Crisis
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, says he unexpectedly received an invitation to a Signal chat group named the “Houthi PC small group.”
Inside the chat, he allegedly saw high-ranking officials discussing U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
According to Goldberg, messages included details about attack sequences, strike targets, and weapon deployment—information that should never have been on an unsecured platform.
This revelation sent shockwaves through Washington, raising concerns about how the Trump administration handles classified military plans.
Hegseth Denies a Breach, But Questions Remain
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against the claims, stating, “Nobody was texting war plans.” However, he did not deny the existence of the chat or that a journalist was mistakenly added.
The National Security Council quickly launched an investigation, trying to determine whether any classified details were exposed.
Meanwhile, political opponents wasted no time criticizing the administration’s communication practices.
Could This Violate Federal Law?
If the allegations are true, sharing classified military plans over an unsecured chat could be a serious violation of federal security protocols.
Laws governing classified information, including the Espionage Act, impose strict penalties for mishandling sensitive military data.
Congress is now demanding answers. Lawmakers have called for hearings to determine whether any laws were broken and whether officials should face consequences.
What Happens Next?
The White House has yet to explain why senior officials were discussing sensitive airstrikes on Signal, a messaging app known for encryption but not for handling classified government secrets.
The investigation could take weeks, but one thing is clear—this controversy isn’t going away anytime soon.