During a recent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, US officials faced tough questioning from Democrats over Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s potential sharing of classified military information in a group chat that included a journalist. The chat, which discussed military actions in Yemen, prompted CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to assert that no classified information was present. Gabbard testified firmly under oath that the chat did not include any intelligence equities at any time, a statement Ratcliffe echoed.
However, both officials shifted the responsibility concerning the classification of specific operational details to Hegseth, asserting that as the Secretary of Defence, he holds the authority to classify information. When asked about the sensitivity of the operational details for strikes against Iran-aligned militants that were reportedly included in Hegseth’s communications, the intelligence leaders deferred to the Defence Secretary, reiterating that he stated the information was not classified.
The situation highlighted an uncomfortable reality for the Trump administration, steering attention towards Hegseth’s contentious role. While discussions among top officials typically involve sensitive information that should be kept confidential, the chat was described as containing general foreign policy debates regarding the strikes, which may not necessarily be classified. Specifically, Hegseth’s messages reportedly contained detailed operational plans, such as targets, weaponry, and sequencing details for strikes.
Testimony during the hearing suggested that any specifics regarding military actions are traditionally classified to safeguard US service members. The communication platform used, Signal, is a commercial application not approved for transmitting classified information.
Senator Tom Cotton, the Intelligence Committee chair, attempted to clarify the distinctions between classified military intelligence under Hegseth’s authority and other types of intelligence overseen by civilian agencies like the CIA. Cotton confirmed that the committee learned there was no classified information from the intelligence community in the communications.
Despite Hegseth’s denials that war plans were discussed, tensions remain high. He labelled the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg from The Atlantic, as "deceitful," even as his administration acknowledged the authenticity of the messages in question. Gabbard initially hesitated to confirm her involvement in the chat due to an ongoing National Security Council review, but later recalled broader discussions about targets.
As this narrative unfolds, it largely reflects on the classification authority of Hegseth as Defence Secretary. Though he has the power to declassify such information, how this incident will be interpreted and its implications for the administration are still burgeoning points of concern.