The Pentagon’s internal oversight body has launched an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concerning his use of the Signal messaging app to discuss forthcoming military operations in Yemen with senior officials during the Trump administration last March.
The inquiry aims to assess whether Hegseth and others at the Defense Department adhered to regulations regarding the use of commercial messaging applications for official communications, as stated in a memo released by the department’s Office of Inspector General.
Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins indicated in the memo that the investigation would also evaluate compliance with classification and records retention standards.
This probe was initiated at the request of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, along with ranking Democrat Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
There have been concerns raised by experts regarding the legality of discussions that took place over Signal regarding military actions.
Hegseth’s Signal group chat regarding operations against Houthi targets included several prominent figures such as Vice President JD Vance, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
During these conversations, Hegseth shared sensitive information about the military operation, including details about attack timings and weapon choices.
The revelations surrounding Hegseth’s messages emerged from a report by The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the group chat by Waltz.
The Trump administration has maintained that no classified information was exchanged during these discussions.
The Defense Department opted not to comment on the ongoing investigation led by Stebbins, citing established policy. Meanwhile, the White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Waltz recently attended a meeting in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, during which far-right activist Laura Loomer urged the president to terminate certain national security aides, as reported by NBC News.
Following that discussion, Trump dismissed six members of his National Security Council, according to a report from The New York Times.
Stebbins assumed the role of acting Pentagon watchdog after Trump removed Inspector General Robert Storch in January. He had previously served as the principal deputy inspector general since April 2023 under President Joe Biden.
