U.S. senators are preparing to interrogate President Donald Trump’s top intelligence officials on Tuesday following alarming reports that sensitive military plan leak in a commercial messaging app chat that included a journalist. This revelation has ignited outrage among Democrats and national security experts alike.
On Monday, Jeffrey Goldberg, the head of The Atlantic magazine, shared that he was accidentally added to a private Signal chat named “Houthi PC small group” on March 13. This group was reportedly coordinating U.S. responses to the Houthi rebels in Yemen after their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, confirmed the authenticity of the chat group. The White House has investigated how Goldberg’s number ended up in the conversation.
Both Democrats and some Republicans are calling for an inquiry into what seems to be a significant security lapse. Sharing classified and sensitive information on commercial mobile applications is strictly prohibited, and unknown numbers like Goldberg’s should not have been included in such discussions.
Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the administration, stating, “The administration is handling our nation’s most classified information carelessly, putting all Americans at risk.”
At its yearly session focused on Global Threats to the United States, the committee will address various security concerns. The Senate Intelligence Committee will question two officials involved in the chat: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican chairman of the committee, indicated that the issue would likely be addressed. “I’m sure the group chat incident will be discussed today, and John Ratcliffe, Tulsi Gabbard, and other leaders will have the opportunity to respond,” Cotton mentioned in an interview on Fox News. He added, “However, I hope we remain focused on the decisive actions the president took against these rogue rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran.”
Representative Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, stated he would also investigate the matter during the committee’s Worldwide Threats hearing on Wednesday. “The American public deserves clarity, and I intend to seek answers at the Intelligence Committee’s hearing,” he said.
Some Democrats have suggested that officials involved in the chat should lose their security clearances or resign, but there has been no immediate indication of any consequences for those involved.
In contrast, White House officials and some Republicans have pointed to the successful military operation against the Houthis as a sign of effective leadership.
On March 15, Trump initiated a series of military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping. He also issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding an end to its support for the Houthis.
Just hours before the strikes commenced, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared operational details in the Signal chat that included Goldberg. Although Goldberg did not disclose specific information in his report, he described the use of the Signal chat as “shockingly reckless.”
The chat group reportedly included accounts that appeared to represent Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ratcliffe, Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and senior officials from the National Security Council.
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