Defense Department Oversight

The Pentagon inspector general found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Department of Defense rules by using his personal Signal app to share sensitive, near‑real‑time operational details — including targets, timing and aircraft — tied to U.S. strikes against Houthi militants, conduct the IG said could have endangered U.S. personnel and the mission. The classified report was delivered to Congress with a redacted public version released Dec. 4; while the IG did not conclude Hegseth had improperly declassified the material and Pentagon spokespeople called the review a "total exoneration," President Trump publicly backed Hegseth and his job appears safe for now.