Fmr. CIA Director: Hegseth’s unauthorized use of Signal app ‘could have put military in danger’

Allegations of Classified Information Sharing - The Pentagon's independent watchdog has evidence suggesting Defense Secretary Pete Hex shared classified information via the Signal app, specifically regarding a US bombing campaign in Yemen [1] - This contradicts the Trump administration's initial claims that no classified information was shared on the Secretary's account [2] - Former CIA Director John Brennan stated the Signal app is not approved for classified information, making its use unauthorized and potentially endangering military operations and personnel [6] Security Risks and Protocol Violations - Sharing classified information via unapproved channels like Signal could allow adversaries like Iran (a principal patron of the Houthis in Yemen) to intercept intelligence and compromise military operations [7] - Using the Signal app also violates the Federal Records Act, which requires federal employees to communicate on approved systems to maintain records [8] - The messages on Signal disappear within days, further complicating record-keeping and accountability [8] Classification Levels and Declassification Authority - Classified information is categorized into three levels: confidential, secret, and top secret, with secret being the most common level for intelligence reports and military operations [9][10][11] - Senior officials have the authority to declassify information, but it should be done before an event, not as an after-the-fact justification [12][13]