Defense Secretary Hegseth Used TeleMessage Signal in At Least a Dozen Pentagon Chats Amid Hack Exposing Classified Data

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Updated May 8, 2025, 04:08 AM

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has used the messaging app Signal extensively for official Pentagon business, participating in at least a dozen separate chats, according to The Wall Street Journal. Some of these chats included Hegseth's wife and brother, and some messages were posted by an assistant on his behalf. The version of Signal used by the Trump administration was a modified app provided by Israeli company TeleMessage, which has recently suspended operations following a reported hack that exposed archived chats and customer data. The hack involved unauthorized access to TeleMessage's backend systems via leaked credentials. Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the app's security vulnerabilities, noting that it sends message logs in plaintext. Former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was also reported to have used this Signal-like app during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed his participation in a non-secure Signal chat where Trump officials discussed classified military information. The use of this civilian messaging app for sensitive government communications has drawn scrutiny and controversy amid concerns over operational security.

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Sources

rollingstone.com(2)economictimes.indiatimes.com washingtonpost.com wired.com

Rep. Stephen F. Lynch

@RepStephenLynch

Treasury @SecScottBessent has confirmed that he participated in the non-secure Signal chat in which Trump officials openly discussed classified military information. Today, I demanded that he refrain from placing our men and women in uniform in danger by complying with proper https://t.co/UpZPC4joTI

Economic Times

@EconomicTimes

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, embroiled in Signal Chat scandal, reportedly used the messaging app Signal in “at least a dozen separate chats” to conduct official Pentagon business, according to The Wall Street Journal. https://t.co/YJwAkOUJuZ

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost

The altered, self-archiving version of messaging service Signal that Trump administration officials appear to have adopted in the wake of the debacle over the Houthi strikes chat group has serious security vulnerabilities, cyber experts say. https://t.co/Kb8zYIv4yk