Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent messages about a planned strike on a Houthi militant leader in Yemen two hours before the covert operation, according to chat screenshots published by The Atlantic on Wednesday.
The disclosure that sensitive military plans were shared on a commercial messaging app—possibly on personal devices—has sparked outrage in Washington. Democrats are calling for dismissals within Trump’s national security team over the leaks.
The Trump administration is now working to contain the fallout, as reports confirm that The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the encrypted Signal chat.
Hegseth has denied revealing operational details, with Trump and his aides insisting that no classified information was shared. However, Democrats and former officials argue that timing and targeting details are among the most sensitive aspects of military planning.
“I think it’s by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) during a House Intelligence Committee hearing.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who oversees Pentagon operations in the Senate, has joined calls for an independent investigation, saying the leaked texts “seem sensitive enough that I would have wanted them classified.”
Intelligence officials say if Houthi leaders had prior knowledge of the strike, they could have escaped, potentially relocating to densely populated areas where civilian casualties would have prevented an attack.
While the chat reportedly contained no names or precise target locations, Pentagon insiders believe Hegseth’s messages were classified at the time. This raises questions about whether and when the texts were declassified.
Controversy Over Hegseth’s Leadership
The leak has intensified scrutiny on Hegseth, whose Senate confirmation was already contentious due to concerns about his experience, temperament, and stance on women in combat.
Despite the uproar, the White House downplayed any potential dismissals, with Trump reaffirming his support:
“Hegseth is doing a great job,” Trump stated, dismissing the controversy as a “witch hunt.”
Meanwhile, Goldberg, who initially withheld details of the chat, chose to publish them Wednesday. The Atlantic has not commented further.
Details of the Leaked Messages
Hegseth’s message, labeled “TEAM UPDATE,” included the following details, according to The Atlantic:
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“TIME NOW (1144 ET): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.”
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“1215 ET: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package).”
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“1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME—also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s).”
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“1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package).”
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“1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets).”
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“1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts—also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”
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“MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline).”
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“We are currently clean on OPSEC.”
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“Godspeed to our Warriors.”
Hours later, national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the operation’s success:
“We had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed,” he wrote, revealing U.S. surveillance operations.
Fallout and Investigations
Questions remain about the nature of the targeted building, the number of occupants inside, and the Pentagon’s claim that there were no civilian casualties.
Hegseth has refused to clarify whether he declassified the messages retroactively. Speaking in Hawaii, he downplayed the leak, insisting:
“No locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods.”
In Jamaica, Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted a “big mistake” had been made by adding a journalist to the chat but dismissed concerns about operational security.
Intelligence officials typically use secure systems for classified communications. CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified that Waltz set up the Signal chat for unclassified coordination, with secure channels handling sensitive details.
Waltz has taken responsibility for the breach, but on Wednesday, he minimized its significance, posting on X:
“No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent.”
Who Decides Classification?
At a House Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that Hegseth alone holds the authority to classify or declassify defense information.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has yet to disclose key details about the Yemen operation, including strike numbers, targeted leaders, and whether the mission has an official name.
