A newly released assessment by the United States Department of Defense’s inspector general has determined that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated established Pentagon communication protocols by sharing sensitive operational information through the consumer messaging app Signal on a personal device.

The watchdog concluded that the messages, which included timing and coordination details related to a planned strike against Houthi militants in Yemen earlier this year, should have been transmitted exclusively via secure, military-approved channels.

The investigation found that the Signal chat included senior officials and, inadvertently, a journalist who later published portions of the conversation.

Although the secretary holds classification authority allowing him to declassify information when necessary, the report stressed that this discretion does not extend to bypassing security systems designed to protect operational integrity and personnel safety.

The review warned that using a publicly available platform exposed U.S. forces to potential interception or exploitation by hostile actors.

Hegseth declined to participate in an in-person interview with investigators, providing instead a written response asserting his belief that no classified information had been shared and that his authority justified the actions taken.

The Pentagon publicly defended him following the report’s release, characterising the findings as clearing him of wrongdoing and insisting that no classified material had been compromised.

The inspector general nonetheless recommended strengthened training across the department on secure communication standards, as well as tighter enforcement of existing protocols.

Members of Congress voiced concern about the episode, with some warning that the lapse suggested deeper issues surrounding adherence to operational security.

Despite the scrutiny, Hegseth continues to receive firm support from the White House as the redacted report is prepared for wider public release in the coming days.