Rep. Seth Moulton criticizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over signal chat security breach
A critical security lapse has sparked outrage after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's team mistakenly included a journalist in a classified military discussion. Representative Seth Moulton leads the charge, calling the breach a dangerous failure that puts national security at risk. Will Congress take action to hold officials accountable?
In a significant security breach, senior officials from President Donald Trump's administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, inadvertently included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing classified U.S. military plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen. This mishap exposed sensitive information, leading to widespread criticism and concerns over national security protocols.
Seth Moulton slams Hegseth over security breach, calls for investigation into Defense leadership
Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts and former Marine Corps officer, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Secretary Hegseth's role in this incident. Moulton emphasized that such a careless mistake not only compromises operational security but also endangers the lives of service members involved in the mission. He questioned Hegseth's judgment and suitability for the position, given the gravity of the error.
Moulton further highlighted that the use of unsecured communication channels for discussing classified military operations is a blatant violation of established security protocols. He argued that this incident reflects a broader pattern of negligence within the administration, calling for a thorough investigation into the practices of the Department of Defense under Hegseth's leadership.
Moulton warns of diplomatic fallout, urges Congress to act on Defense security lapses
In his statements, Moulton also pointed out that this breach could have severe diplomatic repercussions, potentially undermining alliances and giving adversaries insight into U.S. military strategies. He urged Congress to take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable and to implement measures preventing similar incidents in the future.
Moulton's critiques have resonated with other lawmakers and defense experts, who share his concerns about the implications of such a security lapse. The incident has ignited a broader debate about the competence of current defense leadership and the necessity for stringent adherence to security protocols to safeguard national interests.