A high-profile security breach involving U.S. national security officials and a journalist has raised alarms over protocol violations and legal risks, casting a spotlight on the handling of sensitive military operations.
The Incident
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed he was added to a Signal group chat titled 'Houthi PC Small Group,' where senior officials discussed plans for airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. The group allegedly included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who initiated the chat to coordinate actions over a 72-hour period. Goldberg received operational details, including target specifics and weapon deployments, hours before the strikes occurred.
Official Responses
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed ignorance of the incident during a press briefing, dismissing The Atlantic as 'not much of a magazine.' Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Hegseth denied sharing war plans via text, calling Goldberg a 'deceitful and highly discredited' journalist. The National Security Council acknowledged the chat’s authenticity, attributing Goldberg’s inclusion to an 'inadvertent' error.
Criticism Mounts
Democratic lawmakers and legal experts condemned the breach as reckless. Senator Jack Reed called it a 'dangerous failure of operational security,' while Hillary Clinton reacted with disbelief on social media. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded an investigation, labeling the incident 'amateur behavior' that jeopardizes national security.
Legal Questions
The use of Signal’s disappearing messages feature has sparked concerns about violations of federal record-keeping laws. National security lawyers suggested Waltz may have breached the Espionage Act by transmitting classified information to an unauthorized recipient. Goldberg noted the irony of the lapse amid Hegseth’s recent anti-leak campaign.
As scrutiny intensifies, the episode underscores vulnerabilities in secure communication practices within top-tier government circles.
