A tense exchange between Democratic senators and top intelligence officials marked Tuesday's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing over a national security breach involving Signal messaging app.
According to Fox News, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after an editor from The Atlantic gained access to a Signal text chain containing discussions about U.S. operations against Houthis in Yemen.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced intense questioning during the hearing but maintained that no classified information was shared in the Signal chat. The incident has sparked concerns about the handling of sensitive national security information among senior Cabinet officials, leading to calls for immediate investigation.
Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) pressed Gabbard for details about her participation in the group chat with the secretary of defense and other Trump senior officials. Gabbard declined to provide specifics, citing an ongoing review by the National Security Council.
Warner expressed frustration with Gabbard's responses, suggesting that a rank-and-file intelligence officer would face severe consequences for similar behavior. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that military or intelligence officers would typically be terminated for such conduct.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed his presence in the group chat and defended the use of Signal's end-to-end encryption, stating it was permissible and lawful in this instance.
Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) provided crucial context about classification authorities during the hearing. He explained that while Gabbard and Ratcliffe hold original classification authority for many matters, their power doesn't extend to all classified government information.
The discussion revealed the intricate nature of classification authority across different government departments. Cotton highlighted how various department heads maintain independent authority over their respective sensitive information.
FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged being briefed about the situation but couldn't provide updates about potential investigations, having only received information shortly before the hearing.
President Trump has indicated he won't dismiss Waltz despite the controversy. This decision comes amid growing pressure from Democratic lawmakers for accountability measures.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned whether the Signal conversation included details about weapons packages, targets, or timing. Both Ratcliffe and Gabbard indicated no awareness of such information, with Gabbard deferring to the Department of Defense.
Wyden delivered perhaps the strongest criticism, stating:
Obviously, my colleagues and I feel very strongly about the war planning meeting over unclassified phones. Obviously reckless, obviously dangerous, both the mishandling of classified information and the deliberate destruction of federal records or potential crimes that ought to be investigated immediately.
The Senate Intelligence Committee hearing revealed deep concerns about potential security breaches in high-level government communications. A Signal text chain discussing U.S. operations against Houthis in Yemen became compromised when an Atlantic editor gained unexpected access, leading Oregon Senator Ron Wyden to call for the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard maintains no classified information was exposed, the incident has triggered demands for investigation and raised questions about communication protocols among senior Cabinet officials.
