Washington, March 25, 2025 – Three top U.S. intelligence officials faced tough questions from Senate Democrats Tuesday after secret military plans for strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels accidentally sent to journalist via Signal, messaging app.

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel appeared at Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Originally set to discuss global threats but dominated by this security blunder.

Uproar stems from a Signal group chat meant for senior Trump administration officials that mistakenly included The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

He revealed Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of an impending March 15 attack on Iran-backed Houthis. Including targets and weapons, hours before bombs dropped in Yemen. Democrats slammed the incident as reckless with Senator Mark Warner calling it “sloppy” and a breach of protocol.

Gabbard and Ratcliffe denied the chat contained classified data insisting Signal use allowed for coordination. When pressed on whether sensitive plans about the Houthi strikes shared both deflected to Hegseth, saying he decides what’s classified.

Republicans largely dodged the issue, focusing instead on other threats like cartels and China. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who set up the chat. Took full blame calling it “embarrassing” in a Fox News interview. He’s tasked Elon Musk with investigating though details remain unclear.

President Donald Trump speaking at a White House briefing, downplayed the fiasco. “No classified stuff was there as I understand it.” He said, adding national security officials might avoid such apps moving forward.

Critics, however warn using an unsecure platform for war plans risks American lives, especially with Iran-backed militias involved. White House confirmed the chat’s authenticity but claimed it showed “thoughtful coordination.”

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Democrats demand accountability, with some calling for resignations. No timeline exists for Musk’s probe or potential policy shifts, leaving U.S. politics abuzz over this unprecedented leak.