US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has found himself at the center of a scandal after The Atlantic editor-in-chief published a story about him joining a secret Signal chat with key members of Donald Trump's team. In the correspondence, Hegseth shared with them data on strikes against Yemeni Houthis. Was he entitled to do so? WSJ analyzed the impact of “Signalgate” on Hegseth's reputation
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has become a key figure in the scandal in the US in recent days. It all started with messages in Signal that he sent to a group chat with senior US administration officials. They discussed weather conditions, types of weapons – F-18s, MQ-9 Reaper drones, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and even the exact time of the strike on Yemeni Houthi forces – 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Hegseth himself assures that this was just a “standard update” for colleagues, no classified information was disclosed.
The Atlantic has published some of the chat messages. Editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the Signal group a few days before the first US strikes in Yemen this month. Although the magazine refrained from publishing the most sensitive data, the initiative outraged the White House. There, Goldberg’s reputation was also questioned.
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“No war plans, units, locations, routes, flight paths, sources, methods — no classified information,” Hegset said at a briefing in Honolulu.
However, the Pentagon's position is not so clear. Officials who work with classified information emphasize that even the fact of agreeing on the time of the strike and its wording in the chat is a violation of protocols.
“In my opinion, the information that was released is extremely sensitive, and based on my experience, I would insist on its classification. If there were mistakes, they should be acknowledged,” said Republican U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, calling for an investigation.
New messages confirmed that Hegseth had been sending details of the strike in an unsecured chat room set up by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. “We have a positive identification: he went to his girlfriend’s house, which is now destroyed,” Waltz wrote, reporting the hit.
Other officials who were in the chat denied responsibility. They stated that they did not distribute the data, and that it was Hegset who initiated it.
Presidential National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Photo Getty Images
Information leakage as a symptom
Allegations of Hegseth's inexperience are not new and have been discussed since before Signalgate. He did not hold a senior national security position until January 2025. Hegseth's Senate candidacy was heavily criticized by Democrats, who said the former National Guard major and Fox News host lacked the necessary experience for such a responsible position.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former military pilot, said the Signal incident was the result of inexperience. “We are fortunate that this did not result in the death of any service members. But for the safety of the military and the country, Hegseth must resign,” Kelly wrote on social media X.
The administration's position is defensive. The White House insists the information was not classified. Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt stressed that “this was part of a sensitive political discussion” and added that President Trump has “full confidence” in Hegseth.
Republican Party Reaction and Investigation
Republicans initially tried to downplay the incident, but after a new leak from the chat room, many are reconsidering their position. The Pentagon's inspector general has already launched an investigation.
“They won’t be able to fool America,” said Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska. “If you just say, ‘I was wrong,’ and take responsibility, people will forgive you. But if you don’t, it will stay with you for a long time.”
Was the information classified? That question remains at the center of the investigation. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said during the hearing that the messages were “standard updates” sent to allies. But Democrat Jim Himes noted that even such updates to Signal violate internal rules within Gabbard’s organization.
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Photo Getty Images
After the incident, the Pentagon sent out a warning to all military personnel about the risks of using Signal. Planning strikes is always top-secret, and such leaks could cost lives or change the course of operations, former service members say.
“This borders on incompetence,” said Chuck Hagel, a former defense secretary and senator. “It’s irresponsible.”
Against the backdrop of US military action in Yemen and tensions in the Middle East, such incidents cast a shadow not only on an individual minister, but also on the entire defense decision-making vertical, writes WSJ. The Signal scandal is turning from an administrative puncture into a strategic threat.
