WASHINGTON – A Pentagon report suggests that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may have used poor judgment by sharing details about a military operation in Yemen on his personal phone.
The report says that while Hegseth had the power to make the information public, sharing sensitive details about the strike on Houthi rebels using the Signal app broke Pentagon rules. These rules are in place to protect troops and missions.
The report said the information Hegseth shared, like the timing of U.S. airstrikes, could have helped the enemy and put American pilots in danger.
Hegseth’s use of the Signal app became public when a reporter was accidentally added to a group chat. He also shared similar details with a group including his wife and brother.
Critics are questioning Hegseth’s actions. They say that even though he had the authority to make the information public, sharing it on an unapproved app could have put troops at risk.
Hegseth has defended his actions, saying that the information he shared was not classified and posed no danger. He wrote on social media “No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed. Houthis bombed into submission.”
The Pentagon report also mentions that using personal devices for government business is a common problem throughout the Defense Department.
Republicans in Congress have said Hegseth was within his rights to share the information. They also say that military leaders need better ways to share information quickly.
