Pentagon IG finds HEGSETH could have endangered troops with signal chat, sources say

Thursday, December 4, 2025 -A report by the Pentagon Inspector General finds that Pete Hegseth — currently U.S. Secretary of Defense — used the messaging app Signal to share sensitive operational details about a planned strike in Yemen, potentially endangering American troops, according to multiple sources familiar with the classified investigation. 

The messages reportedly came from a document originally marked “SECRET//NOFORN,” and included precise timing and mission‑critical details such as when bombs would drop.

Although Hegseth, as a high‑level official, had the authority to declassify documents, the watchdog concluded that using a personal device and a commercial messaging app violated department protocols, especially given the sensitivity of the content. 

The IG report, now submitted to Congress, warns that if intercepted by a foreign adversary, the leaked details could have jeopardized mission objectives and placed service members in direct danger.

The findings are now fueling pressure from lawmakers and critics who argue that Hegseth’s actions show reckless disregard for operational security — a standard that lower‑ranking service members would likely be punished for. 

With an unclassified version of the report expected soon, the controversy threatens to refocus scrutiny on Hegseth’s oversight of military communications — and whether top‑level leaders are held to the same rules as the rest of the Defense Department.