Group Chat Jeopardizes National Security

LYLA KELLY, copy editor

National security was potentially risked when a journalist from The Atlantic was added to a group chat with a number of security officials who were discussing war plans. On March 13, editor-in-chief Jeffery Goldberg was invited to a Signal text thread, after national security advisor Mike Waltz mistakenly saved Goldberg’s number as someone else’s. Signal is a messaging app that promotes and emphasizes privacy and security, often used by government officials. This chat included other high-status politicians such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State of Marco Rubio and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.  

The group chat had plans of an upcoming U.S. attack – including weapons, sequencing, and targets -- on the Houthis in Yemen, a group of rebels deemed as terrorists by the White House Administration. Goldberg described his disbelief in the messages, thinking it to be false, but shortly after, reports of bombings of the Houthis began. This leak became a concern for both America and its allies’ safety. Various European politicians spoke out about the risks, such as Ed Davey, the leader of Britain’s opposition Liberal Democrats, as well as the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

“It could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked,” Davey claimed in an AP News article. Similarly, Carney shared his belief that the leak could have been accredited to a lack of experience rather than a deliberate disregard of security and safety. In response, the involved American politicians, such as President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance, have shared their minimized view of the effects to the public, stating their trust in their cabinet and security leaders. 

Since the reveal of the plan, many reactions have been made clear, as shown in a video clip BBC posted, when they interviewed a group of people about the leak. Some believe that it was a large mishap that puts the nation at risk and leaves some with decreasing faith in the government, while others claim that it was a minor issue and that it should not happen again and was blown out of proportion.  

More recently, Hegseth bypassed the Pentagon to use the Signal app in his office, connecting to an outside, unsecure internet connection. This raised questions about the possibility of hacking the information, due to the public connectivity. It publishes a user’s information to websites where the security is not as secure as the Pentagon’s, according to AP News. 

While there is debate in the media about this divulgence of information and the risks it may pose to both the United States and other world powers, it brings up significant discussions for other security factors and solutions for the future.