Washington, D.C. – March 26, 2025 – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing intense scrutiny following a bombshell report from The Atlantic, which claims he texted detailed plans to kill a Houthi militant leader in Yemen just hours before a military operation commenced on March 15. The revelation has sparked outrage in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties calling for investigations into what some are labeling a staggering breach of national security.
According to The Atlantic, Hegseth shared the sensitive information in a Signal group chat that inadvertently included the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The chat, which reportedly involved top Trump administration officials including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, outlined operational details such as targets, weapons, and the precise timing of the strikes. Screenshots published by the magazine show Hegseth texting the start time of the operation—down to the minute—two hours before the first bombs fell, an action Goldberg described as “shockingly reckless.”
The operation in question was part of a broader U.S. military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have disrupted Red Sea shipping lanes with attacks on commercial vessels. President Donald Trump, who authorized the strikes, has downplayed the incident, insisting no classified information was compromised. “The strikes were a huge success,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I don’t know anything about this chat, but we’re hitting the Houthis hard.” Hegseth echoed this sentiment, denying that “war plans” were shared and dismissing Goldberg as a “discredited journalist peddling garbage.”
However, Democrats and some Republicans are not convi It seems like you’re referencing a statement made by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer regarding a significant breach of military intelligence. Based on the context, this likely relates to a recent incident reported on March 25, 2025, where top national security officials under President Donald Trump allegedly shared classified war plans for military strikes in Yemen via an unsecured messaging app, inadvertently including a journalist in the conversation.
. Even Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Republican, expressed concern, promising a bipartisan review.
The White House has acknowledged the chat’s authenticity but maintains the operation’s success proves no harm was done. Critics argue that sharing such details on a commercial app like Signal—rather than secure government channels—risked tipping off the enemy, potentially allowing Houthi leaders to evade the strikes. As the fallout continues, Hegseth’s leadership and the administration’s handling of classified information remain under a harsh spotlight.