In March 2025, a significant security breach occurred within the Trump administration when senior officials used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss imminent military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to a private group chat intended for top officials. This group included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
The group chat, titled “Houthi PC small group,” was established to coordinate a military response to Houthi attacks disrupting international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Discussions within the chat involved sensitive operational details, including attack timings, target information, and weaponry to be used. For instance, on March 15 at 11:44 a.m. EDT, Hegseth shared specifics about the launch times of F-18 aircraft, MQ-9 drones, and Tomahawk missiles, as well as the expected impact times of the strikes.
Goldberg, initially unaware of his unintended inclusion, realized the gravity of the situation as the discussed strikes unfolded in real-time. He documented the exchanges and later published detailed articles exposing the breach. The revelations highlighted not only the mishandling of classified information but also internal opinions among officials, such as Vice President Vance’s frustration with European reliance on U.S. military support.
The incident sparked widespread concern over the use of unsecured communication channels for sensitive government discussions. Critics pointed out that employing a commercial app like Signal for such purposes violated federal records-keeping laws and potentially compromised national security. In response, the watchdog group American Oversight filed a lawsuit alleging failures to adhere to the Federal Records Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Despite attempts by the administration to downplay the severity of the breach, the exposure of these communications underscored significant lapses in operational security and raised questions about the administration’s commitment to safeguarding classified information.
