Pentagon Watchdog Launches Investigation Into Hegseth Over Use of Signal

The Department of Defense inspector general is investigating.

Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth in the Oval Office of the White House on March 21, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The inspector general for the Department of Defense is investigating Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his use of the messaging app Signal.

Acting Pentagon Inspector General Steven A. Stebbins said in an April 3 memorandum to Hegseth that the probe would cover whether Hegseth and other military personnel complied with Department of Defense policies and procedures for using a commercial messaging application for official business.

“Additionally, we will review compliance with classification and records retention requirements,” he said.

A Department of Defense spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email, “Per our longstanding policy, we don’t comment on ongoing investigations.”

Hegseth has not publicly commented as of yet on the development.

Hegseth and other top U.S. officials in mid-March messaged on Signal about strikes in Yemen against Houthi terrorists.

The Atlantic reported on the messages after Jeffrey Goldberg, its editor-in-chief, was added to the chat group.

Hegseth and the White House have said no classified information was shared.

National security adviser Michael Waltz has said it was his fault that Goldberg was included in the discussion.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) had requested the investigation, telling Stebbins that the chat “was alleged to have included classified information pertaining to sensitive military actions.”

“If true, this reporting raises questions as to the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know,” they added.

Reed said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times: “I welcome this independent investigation and urge a thorough review of the incident. My top priority is the safety and security of all American servicemembers, and it is critical that sensitive operational information be handled with utmost discretion. I look forward to reviewing the findings of this investigation.”

Other lawmakers have called on the Department of Justice to probe how Goldberg was added. It’s unclear whether the department has been investigating. The agency declined to comment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on March 31 that the White House considered the case closed. The White House has not divulged what its review concluded.

President Donald Trump has defended Waltz and others and said he won’t fire those involved.