IG Report: Hegseth's Signal Use Risked 'Harm' to Military Mission

The Department of Defense Inspector General has concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created operational security risks by sharing sensitive military information over an unsecured Signal messaging app during Houthi strike operations earlier this year. The report found that Hegseth sent nonpublic DoD information identifying aircraft quantities and strike times to hostile territory approximately 2-4 hours before execution. While the IG acknowledged Hegseth’s authority as secretary to declassify information, the investigation determined his actions could have compromised sensitive information and endangered U.S. personnel and mission objectives. The findings have sparked sharply divided interpretations across political lines.