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In a surprising turn of events, high-ranking officials from the nation’s intelligence agencies are set to face Congress this week following the unexpected exposure of sensitive military plans. The so-called Signal scandal has put national security in the spotlight, as discussions meant to be confidential were unwittingly shared with a journalist.
Among those scheduled to testify are CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. They, alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse, and NSA’s Timothy Haugh, will address questions from both the Senate and the House intelligence committees.
The hearings, initially designed to review global security threats, will also delve into the domestic issue of how a journalist was accidentally included in a group chat containing details about a planned attack on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, unexpectedly received messages about these plans on Signal. The group chat included prominent figures such as Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
While the National Security Council confirmed the message’s authenticity, President Trump denied prior knowledge of the incident. Defense Secretary Hegseth further insisted that no actual “war plans” were shared through texts.
Lawmakers are demanding accountability
The mishap has led to bipartisan calls for accountability, with both Democrats and Republicans questioning security practices under the Trump administration. Democrats have criticized the lack of experience among some of Trump’s appointees and are pushing for deeper investigations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have publicly condemned the breach. California Rep. Eric Swalwell has called for severe consequences, suggesting that those involved should lose their security clearances.
On the Republican side, Sen. Roger Wicker expressed concern and advocated for a bipartisan investigation, while Rep. Don Bacon criticized the lapse in security protocols. Rep. Mike Lawler emphasized the importance of secure communication channels for classified information.
These developments underscore the need for stringent security measures to prevent such incidents from recurring, as emphasized by lawmakers from both parties.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
