Security Concerns Arise Over Military Leaders’ Use of Text Group Chat for Classified Discussions

This week, national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a private text messaging group. The unprecedentedness of this blunder drew deep concerns over the safety of classified military talks. That small group, which included some of the Pentagon’s most senior leaders, was deeply involved in planning the Pentagon’s coming strikes against Yemen’s Houthi insurgents. This shocking incident raises very serious questions about our national security. It reemphasizes the dangers of posting sensitive military operational plans on personal smartphones.

To facilitate this ongoing conversation, the team has created a Signal group chat. That decision has prompted a debate about the safety and suitability of such communications. This alarming exchange raises a larger—not just technical—concern over the use of personal cellphones to conduct official, much less classified business. Pete Hegseth, a conservative activist and former Texas lawmaker, raised that concern on Fox News earlier this year. He wondered, “Was it really that he didn’t know? He touted the need for secure, un-hackable communication channels, adding, “That’s what we have [other] devices for.

Despite the controversy, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Monday that Waltz and Hegseth should not face disciplinary action for their participation in the text chain regarding military operations. Meanwhile, top Pentagon officials have underscored the necessity for military leaders to adhere to higher standards in safeguarding weapons and secrets.

The Atlantic reported that some messages in the Signal chat were programmed to delete after a short time, potentially violating federal laws requiring officials to maintain records of official conversations. Pete Hegseth further commented on Fox News, "If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now," highlighting the perceived double standards in handling classified information.

Compounding these worries, Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s chief of staff, disclosed that a probe into the leaks has already been initiated. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller warned about the potential vulnerabilities, stating, "Foreign ‘adversaries could easily hack classified ops & intel in real time from other side of the globe."