1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

The Pentagon's warning about a potential vulnerability in the Signal messaging app seems to contradict the recent actions of Secretary of Defense Hegseth and other top officials who used Signal to discuss highly sensitive military operations. This raises serious concerns about potential security risks and the handling of classified information. The memo clearly states that Signal is not approved for processing or storing non-public unclassified information, citing risks of Russian hacking groups exploiting the app's "linked devices" feature for surveillance. Despite this advisory, Secretary Hegseth and others reportedly used Signal to deliberate on bombing targets in Yemen, involving details that would undoubtedly be classified. It is deeply troubling that senior leaders entrusted with national security matters appear to have disregarded established protocols and recommendations regarding the use of third-party messaging apps for sensitive communications. This incident demands a thorough investigation into potential breaches and an immediate review of policies and practices surrounding the transmission of classified data. Ensuring the protection of classified information is paramount to safeguarding national interests and maintaining the integrity of intelligence operations. The apparent contradiction between the Pentagon's guidance and the actions of top officials casts doubt on the robust security measures that should be in place. A full accounting of this lapse is imperative to restore confidence and prevent future. In the military, sending classified data over insecure channels is called "slippage" when it's considered minor, but even that can be a career ender for a military officer. At least as far back as 2023, a DoD memo, also seen by NPR, prohibited use of mobile applications for even "controlled unclassified information," which is many degrees less important than information about on-going military operations. Hillary checked emails on a private server. Hegseth sent classified information about on-going military operations via unclassified text messaging app. The fallout should be swift and devastating for Hegseth.