In a tense hearing on Capitol Hill, top intelligence officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, faced tough questions about a group chat that allegedly discussed U.S. military plans in Yemen. This hearing came just a day after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had been mistakenly added to a group chat on the secure messaging app Signal, where sensitive information about bombing targets was shared.
The incident raised serious concerns about how national security matters are handled. Ratcliffe asserted that his communications in the chat were lawful and did not include classified information. Gabbard, while not confirming her presence in the chat, claimed she has not shared classified information outside official channels.
Goldberg reported that both Ratcliffe and Gabbard were part of a group of 18 people in the chat, which also included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. During the hearing, Senator Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, pressed for the release of materials from the chat, emphasizing the importance of accountability in national security.
Goldberg received the invitation to join the group chat from National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Initially skeptical, he later believed it was a genuine mistake, suspecting that Waltz or an aide had intended to include someone else with similar initials. He noted that Hegseth shared operational military information in the chat just hours before the U.S. launched airstrikes in Yemen.
The White House confirmed the authenticity of the chat and stated they were reviewing how an incorrect number was added. President Trump downplayed the incident, calling it a minor glitch and praising Waltz as a good man.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed alarm over the security breach. They criticized the use of a public app like Signal for discussing sensitive military plans, which should typically occur in secure facilities. National security experts echoed these concerns, highlighting that the Department of Defense specifically warns against using unauthorized apps for classified communications.
While some Republican lawmakers have downplayed the issue, others, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, indicated that further investigation is necessary. Wicker and Senator Jack Reed plan to gather evidence and discuss the breach in detail.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, defended the participants in the chat, labeling them as patriots and asserting that no classified information was shared. This view was contested by some Republicans, including Rep. Don Bacon, who called for honesty about the situation.
As the fallout from this incident continues, it raises significant questions about the protocols surrounding sensitive information and the responsibilities of those in power to safeguard national security.