1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing with grave concern regarding Pete Hegseth’s actions and his confirmation as Secretary of Defense. Recent reports indicate that Hegseth, along with other former Trump defense and national security officials, shared top secret military plans about bombing Yemen in a Signal chat with a journalist from The Atlantic. This breach of security is deeply alarming and raises critical questions about his judgment and respect for national security protocols. The unauthorized disclosure of classified information violates 18 U.S.C. § 793(f), which makes it a federal crime for individuals entrusted with national defense information to negligently or recklessly leak such details. The fact that Signal, an unapproved platform, was used to discuss such sensitive information also directly contradicts DoD Instruction 8500.01, which mandates the use of approved, secure communication methods for the armed forces. While exceptions can be made by the SECDEF since it was signed by his office, doing so without appropriate justification endangers the security of our nation. I am also deeply troubled by Hegseth’s history of alleged spousal abuse and drinking, which further calls into question his qualifications to lead the Department of Defense. Given these concerning actions, I urge you to advocate for continued scrutiny of his tenure as Secretary of Defense and push for greater oversight of his actions in office. Please consider this an urgent matter of national security. I strongly encourage you to call for an independent investigation into these breaches and hold Hegseth accountable for his actions, preferably by immediate removal. Our nation’s safety and trust in our leaders are at stake. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue.