US Intelligence Officials Grilled Over Security Breach Involving Journalist in Yemen Strike Chat
Top U.S. intelligence officials were on the defensive during a heated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, following a significant security breach that saw a journalist included in a group chat discussing airstrikes in Yemen.
Although the hearing was ostensibly focused on the annual national security threats report, Democratic senators seized the opportunity to confront officials about the controversy. Two of those officials were reportedly part of the group chat, which has sparked widespread concern.
Key Questions About the Breach
Democratic Vice Chair Mark Warner pressed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on how military plans could have ended up in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app. Gabbard denied that classified information was shared, but she declined to provide further details or confirm whether she had participated in the chat.
Warner was unsatisfied with Gabbard’s evasiveness, urging her to reveal the contents of the conversation if, as she claimed, no classified material had been leaked.
The Chat and Its Revelations
The breach first came to light on Monday in an article by The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg reported that he had been added to the chat, which contained detailed plans for airstrikes on Huthi rebel targets in Yemen, just hours before the strikes were launched. As the attacks unfolded, Goldberg realized the chat was authentic after the timeline he had been shown matched the reports of the strikes.
Goldberg chose not to disclose the full contents of the messages, citing concerns that revealing too much could compromise security and put U.S. forces at risk.
The group chat reportedly included several high-ranking Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
White House Response and Official Denials
The White House confirmed the existence of the group chat but maintained that no classified information had been disclosed. Despite Gabbard’s denials, CIA Director John Ratcliffe acknowledged his presence in the chat and defended the use of Signal for discussing military operations.
Senators Demand Accountability
Warner expressed frustration over the incident, emphasizing that such behavior would lead to dismissal for military or intelligence officers. He called the breach a glaring example of “sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information.”
Senator Ron Wyden went further, calling for the resignations of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz is said to have been responsible for inadvertently adding Goldberg to the chat, while Hegseth allegedly shared the strike plans for the Yemen operation.
Wider Concerns Over Sensitive Intelligence Management
The incident has raised alarms about the management of sensitive intelligence and the potential risks of using unsecured platforms for official discussions. Despite reassurances from the White House, the breach underscores ongoing concerns about the handling of classified information within the U.S. government.
