Washington, Mar 26 (V7N) — Current and former national security officials have sharply criticized the Trump administration’s use of the app Signal for discussions leading up to military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The officials, with extensive experience in the Pentagon, CIA, and White House, called the actions reckless, irresponsible, and possibly illegal.
 
In a series of interviews on Tuesday, senior officials outlined the usual protocols for discussing national security matters, emphasizing that such deliberations should always be conducted through the most secure government communication systems. They said it was unprecedented to have high-level discussions outside these channels, especially when dealing with sensitive military operations.
 
Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed disbelief, stating, "How in the Hell could this happen? I have never, ever heard of senior officials using an app like Signal to discuss quite possibly classified information.” He added that such conversations should have taken place in secure settings, like the White House Situation Room or on a secure line.
 
The controversy stems from a series of text messages that were reportedly shared in a group chat leading up to a U.S. airstrike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. According to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to the chat, high-level officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed details of the impending strike, including timing, targets, and weapons.
 
While President Donald Trump claimed the discussion did not include classified information, experts disagreed. The officials interviewed said that the specifics of the airstrike described in the messages were highly sensitive and likely classified.
 
Signal is commonly used for unclassified discussions, but its use in this case raised alarms among experts like Larry Pfeiffer, who had a 32-year career in the intelligence community. Pfeiffer questioned the judgment of officials involved in the discussion and criticized their lack of caution, pointing out that sensitive information should not have been shared without confirming the identities of everyone in the group chat.
 
A former U.S. official, familiar with the planning of U.S. attacks during the Biden administration, noted that military strike planning is always conducted in secure settings, not through commercial apps or private phones. The official, who requested anonymity, stressed that details about the timing and targets of such strikes are always classified.
 
The incident has raised serious concerns about the handling of sensitive national security information and the risks posed by unsecured communication methods.
 
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