Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of Signal, an encrypted messaging app, has raised serious concerns over the safety and security of US servicemembers. A recently released inspector general report has found that Hegseth shared sensitive operational details with senior administration officials, including his wife and brother, potentially putting troops in harm's way.
According to the review, Hegseth sent information about planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including timing, target details, and aircraft movements. While investigators concluded that no classified information was compromised, they noted that Hegseth's actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed US mission objectives and potential harm to pilots.
The watchdog also found that Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by using a personal phone for official business, which is against departmental rules. In response, the Secretary argued that he had the authority to declassify the information shared and claimed that the probe was politically motivated.
However, Democratic members of Congress have expressed outrage over the findings, with Representative Adam Smith calling Hegseth "incompetent" and "profoundly incapable" of safeguarding servicemembers. Senator Mark Kelly described Hegseth's use of an unofficial app to transmit sensitive information as "clearly not acceptable."
The report comes at a time when Hegseth is already facing scrutiny over several controversies, including a recent incident involving a "double-tap" strike in the Caribbean that has raised concerns about potential war crimes. The Pentagon leadership has attempted to cast the findings in a more positive light, but it remains to be seen how this will impact Hegseth's tenure as Defense Secretary.
According to the review, Hegseth sent information about planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including timing, target details, and aircraft movements. While investigators concluded that no classified information was compromised, they noted that Hegseth's actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed US mission objectives and potential harm to pilots.
The watchdog also found that Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by using a personal phone for official business, which is against departmental rules. In response, the Secretary argued that he had the authority to declassify the information shared and claimed that the probe was politically motivated.
However, Democratic members of Congress have expressed outrage over the findings, with Representative Adam Smith calling Hegseth "incompetent" and "profoundly incapable" of safeguarding servicemembers. Senator Mark Kelly described Hegseth's use of an unofficial app to transmit sensitive information as "clearly not acceptable."
The report comes at a time when Hegseth is already facing scrutiny over several controversies, including a recent incident involving a "double-tap" strike in the Caribbean that has raised concerns about potential war crimes. The Pentagon leadership has attempted to cast the findings in a more positive light, but it remains to be seen how this will impact Hegseth's tenure as Defense Secretary.
i mean idk if ur all against him or whatevs but from my perspective he just looks like a big ol mess 
like how can u share sensitive info with ur fam and friends on some unofficial app? thats just not cool fam 
and now theres talk of war crimes and stuff 
maybe he should stick to tweetin about defense instead of actually doin it lol 
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde 
the fact that he declassified some of this info without clearance is just insane. the congress ppl are right to be outraged, Hegseth can't seem to get anything right. and with all these controversies surrounding him, it's hard to see how his tenure as Defense Sec will end well... 
. But in all seriousness, it's hard to trust someone who's been involved in so many scandals already 
. The fact that he shared sensitive info with his family members is just red flag after red flag 
. Can't he see how this puts the lives of US servicemembers at risk? 
shows there's definitely more to this story than meets the eye 