Pentagon IG releases report on Hegseth’s Signal use; watchdog says troops were put at risk
The Pentagon inspector general found that Pete Hegseth used his personal Signal app to share sensitive, operation‑specific details — including targets, precise launch and bomb‑drop timings and named assets tied to planned U.S. strikes on Houthi militants — and concluded interception by an adversary would have endangered U.S. personnel and violated DoD rules. The classified IG report, delivered to Congress and issued in a partially redacted public form Dec. 4, 2025, says Hegseth declined an interview (providing a written response), asserted he could declassify the material (the IG did not determine improper declassification), and notes the chats included other officials and a journalist who was inadvertently added.
📌 Key Facts
- The Pentagon inspector general, Steven Stebbins, delivered a classified report to Congress on Dec. 4, 2025, and a partially redacted public version was released the same day.
- The IG concluded Pete Hegseth’s use of the Signal app to share operational details "put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk," finding interception by a foreign adversary could have endangered servicemembers and the mission.
- The report found Hegseth violated DoD policy by using his personal cellphone and Signal chats to transmit sensitive targeting and strike-sequencing information tied to planned U.S. airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen, including precise launch and bomb‑drop times and mentions of F‑18s, MQ‑9 drones and Tomahawk missiles.
- Sources say the sensitive details Hegseth posted were derived from a SECRET//NOFORN email sent by Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla.
- The Signal groups included family members (his wife and brother) and other reported participants; a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to a chat, and one source identified then–National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as the chat’s creator.
- The IG did not conclude the information had been improperly declassified; Hegseth told investigators in writing he believed he had the authority to declassify and that the material did not need to be classified, and the Pentagon spokesman called the report a "TOTAL exoneration."
- Hegseth declined an in-person interview, provided only a written response, did not give investigators direct access to his phone, and some chat messages were unrecoverable because they had auto-deleted.
- Top Democrats on House and Senate intelligence committees criticized the conduct as reckless, and the report’s release coincided with other classified briefings to congressional leaders.
📊 Relevant Data
Black Americans make up just over 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly 19 percent of active-duty Army personnel.
Black Americans face unequal burden as US inches closer to war — AFRO
Black servicemembers have routinely been overrepresented in frontline and high-risk roles while underrepresented in officer ranks.
Black Americans face unequal burden as US inches closer to war — AFRO
In 2023, 17.6% of active-duty US military personnel identified as Black or African American.
2023 Demographics Profile of the Military Community — Military OneSource
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
"The Playbook analysis critiques Pete Hegseth’s Signalgate conduct and links it to the Sept. 2 boat‑strike controversy, arguing the IG report and congressional briefings create serious operational and political problems for him — but notes the White House’s loyalty makes his near‑term removal unlikely despite long‑term vulnerability."
"A critical opinion piece that uses psychological framing (weaponized anger, malignant narcissism) to condemn Pete Hegseth’s Signal posts and the broader administration culture that tolerates reckless, attention‑seeking breaches of classified operational norms and calls for accountability."
📰 Sources (10)
- IG report ties the Signal messages to sequencing details for an upcoming strike on Houthis in Yemen, saying they could have enabled adversaries to counter U.S. forces or reposition assets.
- Hegseth declined an interview and did not provide direct access to his personal phone; the IG says some chat messages had auto‑deleted due to settings when extracted.
- Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell called the report a “TOTAL exoneration” and claimed it proves no classified information was shared.
- Hegseth told the IG in writing he determined the information did not need to be classified.
- The Pentagon Inspector General’s full report on Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal was publicly released on Dec. 4, 2025; PBS published the document.
- Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees (Rep. Jim Himes, Sen. Mark Warner) criticized the conduct as reckless, noting the report shows multiple instances of Signal used for official business.
- AP sourcing reiterated the IG’s finding that Hegseth endangered U.S. personnel by conveying sensitive strike information via Signal.
- The Defense Department inspector general’s partially redacted report on Hegseth’s use of Signal is expected to be released on Thursday, Dec. 4, per PBS/AP.
- The IG release is occurring the same day as Bradley’s classified briefings to congressional leaders.
- NPR reports the Signal group chat included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic.
- According to NPR’s sources who reviewed the IG report, it concludes Hegseth violated Pentagon regulations by using a personal cellphone for official business.
- NPR specifies the messages included precise launch times for F‑18s, drones, and Tomahawk missiles, and notes the report does not state whether Hegseth actually declassified the information before sharing.
- PBS specifies the incident involved a Yemen operation against Houthi militants.
- Says a journalist was accidentally added to the Signal chat providing sensitive, real-time strike updates.
- Frames the risky conduct as tied to discussing an active strike earlier this year via Signal.
- IG identified as Steven Stebbins; report expected to be released as early as Thursday.
- Report says Hegseth shared targets, timing, and aircraft details to two Signal groups that included his wife and brother.
- Finding states interception by an adversary would have endangered U.S. servicemembers and the mission.
- Hegseth declined an interview with investigators, providing only a written response.
- Hegseth asserted he could declassify information; IG did not determine whether the material was declassified at the time of sharing but noted he had authority to do so.
- Context ties the chats to planning for U.S. airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, initially exposed after a journalist was added to the Signal chat.
- IG found Hegseth violated DoD policies by using his personal device and transmitting sensitive operational information in a Signal chat.
- The sensitive details Hegseth posted were derived from a SECRET//NOFORN email sent by Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla.
- Sources say the report concludes interception by a foreign adversary would have clearly endangered U.S. service members and the mission.
- The IG report, classified, was delivered to Congress on Tuesday; a public version is expected Thursday.
- Sources told CBS the report does not address whether Hegseth declassified the information before posting.
- IG concluded Hegseth’s use of Signal to share sensitive strike details 'put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk.'
- Report did not find improper declassification by Hegseth, per sources.
- Report has been delivered to lawmakers for classified review; a partially redacted public version is expected later this week.
- Hegseth shared exact launch and bomb-drop timings in at least two Signal chats before aircraft were airborne.
- Participants in one chat included VP JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and DNI Tulsi Gabbard; a separate 13-person chat included Hegseth’s wife and brother.
- Confirms the DoD IG’s classified report was provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee and says a redacted public version will be released Thursday.
- Identifies then–National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as the creator of the Signal chat and names The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg as the journalist inadvertently added.
- Publishes specific time-stamped Signal messages attributed to Pete Hegseth detailing strike timing and assets (F-18s, MQ-9s, Tomahawks) and an 'OPSEC is clean' note.
- Reiterates the IG is reviewing classification and records retention compliance tied to the Signal chats.