US President Donald Trump and top intelligence officials have downplayed concerns over a security breach involving a journalist in a senior military chat. BBC reported that the journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal group where top officials discussed planned US airstrikes in Yemen.
During a heated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe insisted that no classified information was leaked. However, Democratic lawmakers slammed the incident as an “embarrassment” and a serious security failure.
Journalist Unintentionally Included
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz or one of his aides. At first, Goldberg thought the messages were fake but realized they were real when the airstrikes on Yemen matched the chat’s discussions.
The incident, now dubbed “Signalgate,” has led to a lawsuit and intense scrutiny over why senior officials used an unsecured app for sensitive discussions. The March 15 airstrikes, which targeted Iran-backed Houthi rebels, killed 53 people. More attacks followed, including new strikes on Tuesday.
Senate Hearing Overshadowed
Originally meant to address drug cartels and human trafficking, the Senate hearing was instead dominated by the security breach.
Ratcliffe denied that operational details like weapons, targets, or attack timings were shared in the chat. Gabbard argued that the breach was an “inadvertent release” rather than a “malicious leak.”
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Trump Dismisses Concerns
Trump brushed off the controversy, calling it a “glitch” that had “no impact at all” on military operations. He defended Waltz, saying the adviser had “learned a lesson” but remained a “good man.”
At a White House event, Waltz criticized Goldberg, accusing him of trying to stir controversy instead of recognizing Trump’s administration’s successes.
Security analysts condemned the use of a civilian messaging app for high-level military discussions. The nonpartisan watchdog group American Oversight has filed a lawsuit against those involved, arguing that officials violated the Federal Records Act by setting messages to auto-delete.
Lawmakers Push for Investigation
Several lawmakers have called for a full investigation. Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, demanded a bipartisan probe and access to full transcripts of the chat.
Senator Jon Ossoff called the breach “utterly unprofessional” and criticized officials for failing to acknowledge its seriousness.
The National Security Agency had previously warned against Signal’s vulnerabilities, raising further concerns about the administration’s handling of classified information.
As the controversy grows, lawmakers, security experts, and watchdog groups continue to push for accountability.
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