A report from the Pentagon’s inspector general is set to be released on Thursday, focusing specifically on the use of the messaging app Signal for sharing classified information regarding the Houthi attack planned for March.
A classified version of this report will be submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, while a declassified, redacted version will be made available to the public, according to a source familiar with the situation.
During the Trump administration, officials discussed a measured military response against the Houthis in Yemen using Signal. Mike Walz, the national security adviser at the time, set up a group chat that included many members of Trump’s Cabinet but inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
The inspector general launched an investigation in April at the request of notable congressional members. The report from Inspector General Stephen Stebbins indicates that the investigation will assess whether Hegseth improperly communicated plans for U.S. offensive actions against the Houthis and will also review adherence to classification and record-keeping standards.
According to the report, Hegseth’s messages on Signal outlined the use of F-18 jets, drones, and Tomahawk missiles for the Houthi attack. He informed senior government members about the timing and details of the strikes with precise messages.
Waltz later claimed that the operation was successful, stating that they had identified a key target and took decisive action against it. Trump administration officials assert that no sensitive information was disseminated through these chats, emphasizing the need for clarity in the report’s findings.
Thursday is expected to be significant for the Pentagon. General Mitch Bradley, the commander of Special Operations Command, will also be at the Capitol to discuss a controversial attack from September, which has drawn severe criticism from lawmakers. The unfortunate confusion and subsequent actions regarding survivors have led to accusations that a war crime may have occurred.
While an initial report suggested that orders for the second attack came from higher-ups, Hegseth has denied giving such orders and clarified that he did not oversee the events. He maintains that Bradley acted independently in this case.
