December 2, 2025 / 11:51 PM EST / CBS News
A Pentagon inspector general report into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal could be released this week, a source told CBS News. A copy has been sent to Congress, and a redacted, unclassified version may be made public as early as Thursday, Axios first reported.
The probe began eight months ago at lawmakers’ request. Acting IG Steven Stebbins said his office was examining “the extent to which the Secretary of Defense and other DoD personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures for the use of a commercial messaging application for official business.”
The inquiry stems from March reporting by The Atlantic’s editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who revealed he had been added to an 18-person Signal chat — labeled “Houthi PC small group” — used by administration officials to discuss a sensitive operation against the Houthis in Yemen. Messages published by Goldberg appeared to include details from Hegseth’s account about strike timing and aircraft, updates from then-National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and messages from Vice President JD Vance.
The National Security Council said the messages appeared authentic; the White House maintained the content was not classified, and President Trump defended his staff. Waltz has acknowledged creating the chat, called the incident “embarrassing,” and said he did not know how Goldberg’s number was added.
Democrats criticized the episode, asking how a reporter was added to what seemed to be a highly sensitive discussion and whether security was compromised. Signal’s end-to-end encryption is widely used for privacy, but experts note human error and phishing risks across messaging platforms.
CBS News reported over the summer that the IG obtained evidence suggesting messages from Hegseth’s account included details from a classified email. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated that the department stood by prior statements asserting “no classified information was shared via Signal.” Questions have also been raised about records retention; Goldberg reported some messages were set to disappear after a week. Stebbins said his team would review compliance with classification and records retention requirements.
Sources told CBS in April that Hegseth shared strike details in a second private Signal group that included family and his personal attorney.
The report’s release comes amid scrutiny of Hegseth over a Washington Post report that a Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean involved a follow-on strike that killed survivors, with reporting saying Hegseth urged the operation to “kill everybody.” The Trump administration confirmed a second strike but denied Hegseth ordered it. Democratic lawmakers have sought details and suggested such an order could amount to a war crime; Hegseth says the strikes were lawful and that Adm. Frank Bradley ordered the follow-on strike.
