Security Breach: Journalist Accidentally Added to Pentagon’s Private Strike Planning Chat
A significant security lapse occurred within the Trump administration when senior defense officials mistakenly included a journalist in an encrypted Signal group discussing confidential military plans for strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to a report by *The Atlantic*.
The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed Monday that he was inadvertently added on March 13 to a chat group titled “Houthi PC small group,” where National Security Adviser Mike Waltz directed his deputy, Alex Wong, to assemble a “tiger team” coordinating U.S. military action. This breach occurred just two days before President Trump launched sustained airstrikes against the Houthis in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping, with explicit warnings to Iran, the group’s primary supporter.
Goldberg reported that prior to the strikes, Pentagon official Pete Hegseth shared operational details in the chat—including target specifics, weapon systems, and attack sequencing—which the journalist characterized as “shockingly reckless.” While Goldberg declined to disclose classified particulars, the incident raises serious questions about secure communications protocols among top defense officials.
When contacted by Reuters, the Defense Department deferred to the National Security Council. NSC spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed the chat’s authenticity, stating: “We’re reviewing how an unauthorized number was added. This thread reflects thorough policy coordination, and the operation’s success proves no compromise to national security occurred.” Hughes emphasized that the ongoing military campaign against the Houthis hasn’t endangered U.S. forces.
The breach highlights vulnerabilities in digital security practices at the highest levels of national security planning, particularly concerning the use of consumer-grade encrypted platforms for sensitive military discussions. The incident follows Trump’s March 15 authorization of unprecedented strikes against Houthi targets, marking a significant escalation in U.S. response to the rebel group’s maritime attacks.
