Special Poll
Republican lawmakers are calling for formal investigations into the recent disclosure of sensitive national security information that was reportedly shared among senior Trump administration officials via Signal, a private encrypted messaging app. The growing controversy has raised alarms across both parties and could have serious political repercussions for the administration.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, confirmed on Tuesday that his committee will look into the incident. He also urged the Department of Defense’s inspector general to conduct an independent review.
“We’ll certainly be asking the IG to look into it,” Wicker said, referring to the episode that has prompted widespread concern over the use of nonofficial communication channels for high-level government discussions.
Sources on Capitol Hill say the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, is also expected to launch its own probe. Lawmakers on the panel reportedly discussed the issue at length during a closed-door hearing Tuesday, where five senior intelligence and defense officials testified.
Among those questioned were Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, both of whom were part of the Signal chat organized by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Others in the group included Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Signal group reportedly discussed operational details surrounding a planned military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The situation escalated after Waltz mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the chat. Goldberg later revealed he had been granted access to the group, which included discussions of pending U.S. military action.
Further complicating the matter, Hegseth allegedly sent messages containing specific details about the military strikes before they were carried out, raising serious questions about operational security and potential violations of federal protocols regarding the handling of classified information.
The incident has fueled bipartisan concern about the Trump administration’s reliance on unofficial and unsecure digital platforms to conduct government business. Lawmakers are now grappling with how to address the breach and prevent similar lapses moving forward, as the use of apps like Signal becomes more prevalent among senior officials.
With multiple committees now gearing up for investigations, the fallout from the Signal group chat is likely far from over—and could shape future debates over national security, digital communication, and accountability in government.