Washington, March 25, 2025: A major security blunder has rocked the Trump administration after it was revealed that top officials inadvertently shared details of U.S. military plans against Yemen’s Houthis in a Signal group chat that included a journalist. The White House confirmed the mistake on Monday following a report by The Atlantic.
The leak, which Democratic lawmakers have called a serious breach of national security, came just days before the U.S. launched large-scale airstrikes on March 15 in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. According to The Atlantic, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was unexpectedly added to a private Signal chat group named “Houthi PC small group” on March 13. The group reportedly included senior national security officials coordinating military action against the Houthis.
In the chat, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz directed his deputy Alex Wong to form a “tiger team” to oversee the U.S. operation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared sensitive operational details, including planned targets, the weapons to be deployed, and the sequencing of the attacks. While Goldberg withheld specific details in his report, he called the exchange a “shockingly reckless” use of an unsecured messaging app.
The chat group appeared to include key members of the Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Trump’s nominee for National Counterterrorism Center director, Joe Kent, was also allegedly part of the group despite not yet being confirmed by the Senate.
When asked about the incident, President Trump dismissed the report, stating, “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic.” However, a White House official later confirmed that an internal investigation was underway and that Trump had been briefed on the matter.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged the chat’s authenticity but downplayed security concerns, stating, “The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.”
Hegseth, however, denied that any classified information was leaked. “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” he told reporters in Hawaii. Goldberg countered the claim in an interview with CNN, stating, “No, that’s a lie. He was texting war plans.”
Vice President JD Vance’s Comments on ‘European Free-Loading’ Spark Controversy
Screenshots from the chat group also revealed a debate among officials over whether the U.S. should carry out the strikes, with Vice President Vance expressing reluctance to assist European allies. “I just hate bailing Europe out again,” he reportedly wrote, adding, “Let’s just make sure our messaging is tight here.”
Hegseth responded by agreeing with Vance’s stance, saying, “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.” Vance also questioned the timing of the attack, warning that it could lead to a “moderate to severe spike in oil prices.”
The disclosure has triggered immediate backlash from Democratic lawmakers, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer calling it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence in recent history.” He urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to launch a formal investigation.
Under U.S. law, mishandling classified information can be a criminal offense, though it remains unclear whether this incident meets the threshold for prosecution. The use of Signal, an app that does not rely on U.S. government encryption or servers, also raises concerns about potential violations of federal record-keeping laws.
Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, had previously warned on X (formerly Twitter) that any unauthorized leaks of classified information would be treated as criminal offenses. She is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday regarding global threats to the United States.
Despite mounting criticism, the White House has dismissed speculation that the leak will lead to staffing changes. “President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called the use of Signal for national security discussions “blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief.” Senator Chris Coons added, “Every single one of the government officials on this text chain has now committed a crime, even if accidentally, that would normally involve a jail sentence.”
As pressure mounts, the Trump administration now faces a political firestorm over both the security lapse and the controversial comments on U.S. foreign policy priorities.
