Inadvertent Security Breach: Journalist Joins Trump Administration’s Yemen Attack Chat

Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic shared an account of accidentally joining a military strategy text group of U.S. officials discussing an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen. The messages revealed operational details and internal disagreements among high-ranking officials. While the government downplayed the breach’s implications, it sparked calls for oversight and raised questions about record-keeping.

In a significant security breach, Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, recounted how he inadvertently joined a text chat group of U.S. officials discussing military plans against Houthi targets in Yemen. Initially believing the connection request to be a hoax, he confirmed its authenticity when the group began sharing detailed attack strategies, raising concerns about operational security despite the administration’s commitment to reducing leaks.

Goldberg refrained from publishing the sensitive details but noted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had shared substantial operational insights concerning the attacks, including target information and deployment plans. The discussions provided insights into the administration’s strategy regarding the Houthis, revealing internal disagreements, especially with Vice President JD Vance expressing concerns over the potential inconsistency with President Trump’s messaging and the associated risks of rising oil prices.

The debate among top officials continued as members, including high-ranking cabinet members, featured in the messages. However, their discussions took an abrupt turn as an account, likely belonging to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, dismissed Vance’s concerns, underscoring the administration’s directive for a green light on the operation.

In the aftermath of the breach, President Trump claimed ignorance of the situation, expressing confidence in his security team. Hegseth downplayed the severity of the chat content, stating, “Nobody was texting war plans.” The National Security Council’s spokesman, Brian Hughes, acknowledged the authenticity of the text messages yet emphasized their lack of threat to national security.

Furthermore, this incident has raised issues regarding government record-keeping, as the chat was set to delete messages after a few days. Despite the breach’s gravity, which contravenes established procedures for handling classified information, responses from some officials attempted to diminish the perceived risks.

Calls for oversight hearings from several Democratic lawmakers indicated concerns about the implications of such leaks, while House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the involved parties as trustworthy. Meanwhile, Senator Jack Reed condemned it as a glaring failure of operational security. Ultimately, U.S. forces executed the strikes against the Houthis, marking a critical response to ongoing threats in the region while showcasing the informal communication style among senior officials.

The incident involving Jeffrey Goldberg’s unintentional addition to a military operation chat among U.S. officials highlights a remarkable lapse in security protocols. Despite efforts to emphasize the administration’s operational security strategy, the publication of sensitive information raises significant concerns about safety, record-keeping, and the management of classified discussions. As the discourse continues in Congress regarding this breach, the implications for national security remain a topic of critical examination.

Original Source: www.business-standard.com