Overview

• The inquiry focuses on the March 15 Signal group chat that shared operational details about Houthi targets in Yemen and whether any of Hegseth’s aides were instructed to delete those messages.
• Investigators have interviewed current and former staff to establish who typed or authorized the messages and who else had access to Hegseth’s phone.
• Messages in the unapproved app contained sensitive information on strike timing, weapon types and specific targets, raising operational security concerns.
• Hegseth maintains that no classified material was disclosed, calling the chats informal and unclassified updates intended for media coordination.
• Set to appear before the Senate and House appropriations subcommittees next week, Hegseth will face scrutiny over his handling of secure communications and Pentagon leadership turnover.