Pentagon Oversight Agency to Examine Defence Secretary’s Involvement in Group Messaging Incident
The Pentagon’s inspector general’s office is set to launch an investigation into the use of the commercial messaging app Signal by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for discussions related to air strikes in Yemen. This inquiry stems from a memo highlighting concerns regarding compliance with established policies regarding communication channels.
Recently, the Trump administration has found itself enmeshed in controversy following the accidental leak of a group chat featuring senior security officials discussing air strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. As stated in the memo from Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins, the investigation will assess not only Mr. Hegseth’s adherence to protocols but also the overall compliance with classification and records retention requirements during these discussions.
In a revealing report, The Atlantic magazine disclosed that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to this Signal chat where key officials, including Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, exchanged messages about the military operations.
While the magazine initially chose to withhold sensitive content, it later published details after the White House claimed that no classified information had been shared and criticized Mr. Goldberg’s integrity. The chat reportedly included messages detailing the timing of the strikes and the military assets involved, along with real-time intelligence updates about the strikes’ aftermath.
In response to the unfolding situation, the White House, along with other officials implicated in the chat, has sought to minimize the issue. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted to journalists that “the case is closed,” a statement that may not fully assuage public concern.
A recent court order mandated the Trump administration to preserve all Signal communications exchanged between March 11 and March 15. These dates mark the period from when Mr. Waltz initiated the group chat—by mistakenly including Mr. Goldberg—up to the US air strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis.
The Atlantic reported that Mr. Waltz had programmed some messages to disappear within a week, and others within four days. This situation raises critical questions regarding potential violations of federal records laws, as transparency is paramount in government communications.
Former President Trump has largely directed criticism towards Mr. Waltz while dismissing calls for resignations from Democrats. He has, instead, focused on portraying the air raids as a success against Yemeni rebels. It’s important to note that the Houthis escalated their actions against shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023, citing their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
These Houthi attacks have impeded maritime traffic through the Suez Canal—a crucial artery responsible for about 12% of global shipping traffic—necessitating costly reroutes for many companies. The Biden administration responded to this escalating situation with military strikes, and US operations have persisted with regular air assaults against Houthi targets since March 15.
“In times of conflict, transparency and accountability are vital in ensuring that actions taken by the government remain in the public’s trust,” captures the essence of the current scrutiny.
It will be interesting to see how the investigation unfolds and whether it brings necessary reform in the handling of sensitive communications.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
