Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused of sharing military plans on Signal App

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny after allegations surfaced that he used a non-government messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations.

(CNN)- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny after allegations surfaced that he used a non-government messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations. According to three sources, Hegseth participated in a Signal group chat earlier this year that included his brother, personal attorney, and spouse — just ahead of U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

While both his brother and attorney reportedly work for the Defense Department, his wife does not. Sources say the conversation took place on Hegseth’s personal phone. Signal is an encrypted app, but experts stress that top-level military planning is typically restricted to secure environments like the Situation Room and to individuals with a need-to-know clearance.

“It’s truly shocking,” said Sabrina Singh, former Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary under President Biden. “It puts the operation — and the lives of those fighter pilots — at risk by involving people who shouldn’t have access to that information.”

The Pentagon’s Acting Inspector General is currently investigating a separate Signal group chat from earlier this year, also connected to the Yemen strikes. That group reportedly included cabinet officials — and mistakenly, a journalist.

“This stuff is classified — no doubt about it,” said retired Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. He warned that informal digital communications could not only jeopardize U.S. operations but also strain relationships with allies who may fear their intelligence won’t be handled securely.

Leighton added that adversaries like Russia and China are likely making efforts to intercept such communications, even if they originate from inside the U.S. “These types of Signal chats are prime targets.”