The Pentagon's inspector general has launched an investigation into whether US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated department policy by discussing military strike plans in a private conversation on the Signal app, following a report by The Atlantic.
The investigation will examine whether Hegseth inappropriately discussed operational plans for a U.S. offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen and will also examine "compliance with classification and record retention requirements," according to a memo from Inspector General Steven Stebbins.
The investigation began after leading Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested it last week.
“This conversation allegedly included classified information related to sensitive military discussions in Yemen,” Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Member Jack Reed wrote in a letter to Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins. “If true, this reporting raises questions about the use of unclassified networks to discuss classified and sensitive information,” they continued.