A Pentagon watchdog report has delivered a major blow to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, concluding that he violated security protocols and put U.S. service members at risk by sharing strike-related information through an unsecured Signal group chat.
The investigation found that Hegseth used his personal phone and an unapproved messaging platform to discuss the timing of an upcoming military strike against Houthi targets in Yemen. The chat also mistakenly included a civilian journalist, exposing sensitive operational details to someone outside the chain of command.
According to the inspector general, the information Hegseth shared originated from a document marked as secret. While the report does not explicitly accuse him of knowingly transmitting classified material, it states that discussing military timing and operational sequences through a personal device violated long-standing Pentagon communication rules.
The review also noted that Hegseth declined an in-person interview with investigators and instead submitted written responses.
The findings have intensified scrutiny surrounding Hegseth, who is already navigating controversy tied to war-crimes allegations involving U.S. forces overseas. Lawmakers are demanding consequences, arguing that the breach raises serious concerns about judgment, operational discipline and the handling of national security information.
Hegseth’s office maintains that no classified details were revealed and that the messages lacked target names, locations or tactical specifics.
Despite those assurances, the report concludes that the lapse created unnecessary risks and eroded the communication safeguards designed to protect troops during active operations. The unclassified version of the report is expected to be made public soon, fueling calls for accountability at the highest levels of the Pentagon.