Rep.SaludCarbajal
Senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), led a group of 69 House Democrats in a letter to National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the incredible incompetence displayed by their use of Signal to communicate highly sensitive national security information.
“The Trump Administration’s national security team demonstrated incredible incompetence and carelessness by using Signal to communicate highly sensitive national security information,” said Rep. Carbajal. “These reckless actions not only jeopardized the safety of our country, but it also put the lives of servicemembers at risk. Secure communication channels are essential to protecting our national security, and the use of platforms like Signal to communicate highly classified information is a clear failure in safeguarding the trust placed in our government. There must be accountability for this dangerous lapse in judgment, starting with the immediate resignation of Secretary Hegseth. We cannot afford to allow this negligence to go unaddressed.”
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
The letter was also signed by: Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Wesley Bell, Brendan Boyle, Janelle Bynum, André Carson, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Steve Cohen, J. Correa, Jim Costa, Madeleine Dean, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Dwight Evans, John Garamendi, Vicente Gonzalez, Maggie Goodlander, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Glenn Ivey, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Julie Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Robin Kelly, Rick Larsen, George Latimer, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Robert Menendez, Dave Min, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Chris Pappas, Brittany Pettersen, Mark Pocan, Nellie Pou, Raul Ruiz, Patrick Ryan, Janice Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, Brad Sherman, Mikie Sherrill, Darren Soto, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Marilyn Strickland, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Ritchie Torres, Derek Tran, Juan Vargas, Gabe Vasquez, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Nikema Williams.
March 26, 2025
| The Honorable Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 |
The Honorable Marco Rubio Secretary of State 221 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
|
| The Honorable Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence Office of the Director of National Intelligence Washington, DC 20511 |
The Honorable Mike Waltz National Security Advisor 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20503 |
Dear Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio, Director Gabbard, and Mr. Waltz,
We write to express grave concern over your handling of sensitive information regarding military operations in Yemen and potential risks to our servicemembers carrying out this mission. The Atlantic reported that their Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat on March 13 titled “Houthi PC small group.” Fortunately, an American journalist was added and not anyone who could have used this information to cause significant harm to the United States.
As more evidence has come to light, the misconduct in the group chat has become further undefendable and inexcusable. You all jeopardized the lives of servicemembers. There must be accountability starting with the immediate resignation of Secretary Hegseth.
The degree of incompetence, carelessness, and irresponsibility is difficult to underscore. It is incomprehensible that the heads of the world’s most powerful government were unknowingly sharing secret military plans and knowingly using an unsecure communications method to do so. A bad actor or foreign contact could have easily been added to this Signal group instead of Mr. Goldberg. This experience was so absurd that Mr. Goldberg thought it more likely to be a disinformation campaign or artificial intelligence than several key members of our government, many who sit on the National Security Council.
This encounter calls into question the way in which this operation was discussed. It was reported that classified or highly sensitive information was being shared over Signal. Information that if leaked to the wrong sources could have resulted in dire national security consequences. As the article goes on to state, there are legitimate questions on whether laws like the Espionage Act or laws on preserving official federal records were violated.
If you had not added a non-government individual to this Signal group, then this breach would never have come to light. This does not inspire confidence that other classified communications have been handled through proper channels or that this national security team is taking these issues seriously.
We hope you understand the gravity of this situation. The decisions you make have a significant impact on our national security and the safety of our servicemembers. We will be demanding accountability and transparency in what transpired. For the sake of our national security, we ask that you fully and willingly cooperate with Congress in any forthcoming hearings or investigations.
Accountability!
Cons constantly harp on it, but almost never practice it with their own ilk.
Any junior officer would be court-martialed for a tenth of the infraction.
“different spanks for different ranks”
Thank you, Salud! But, didn’t the merit-based hire, Hegseth, assure us that no one was texting war plans?
At some point, the criminals who are ruining this country will have to face consequences. How much longer do we need to wait?
You mean the DUI hire? 😉
Sadly, but obviously, as Trump and his administrations have shown, no, people will NOT face consequences.
ANON – yep, ol’ DUI Hire himself! As long as Trump/MAGA are in power, you’re right. No consequences for anyone in a red hat. But someday, hopefully soon, I have faith that real Americans will regain control from these dictators and, again hopefully, they will dole out justice like we have throughout history when fascist dictators are toppled. I just hope that justice is swift and public!
Good to hear he’s taking a lead on this. If you approve of this be sure to send him and others an email or a phone call letting them know.
I’m a little sad to see he didn’t demand resignations, but no doubt there will be more opportunities for that, given how unqualified Trump’s cabinet is, so maybe he’s saving some of his ammunition, so to speak.
and more: Google “news waltz gmail”