By Alexander Ward and Nancy A. Youssef

WASHINGTON -- A Pentagon inspector general investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging service is focusing on whether details of a military operation were classified and if anyone ordered texts to be deleted, people familiar with the probe said.

Pentagon officials have said that messages Hegseth sent in March about a U.S. attack in Yemen didn't contain classified information. He shared specific times that F-18 jet fighters, MQ-9 Reaper drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles would be used in the attack as well as other normally-closely held details of the airstrikes, according to a transcript of the chat released by the Atlantic.

It is unclear whether Acting Pentagon Inspector General Steven Stebbins, who is overseeing the probe, will reach a public conclusion about whether the information was classified at the time it was shared by Hegseth. The Wall Street Journal reviewed communications indicating that issue and whether any messages were expunged are under examination.

The inspector general's findings could be released as soon as next week, likely before Hegseth is scheduled to testify Thursday at the House Armed Services Committee.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the inspector general's inquiry. An spokeswoman for Stebbins said the office was conducting an evaluation, not a full-on investigation. The Associated Press first reported on the probe's focus.

The inquiry is examining at least two chats, including one that included Hegseth's family members, according to people familiar with the probe.

Some of Hegseth's messages were posted by his military aide, Marine Col. Ricky Buria, who was given access to the secretary's personal phone, the Journal has previously reported. It was Buria who supplied information about the imminent U.S. attack on Houthi militants in Yemen into the Signal chat group that included the secretary's wife, brother and private lawyer.

Hegseth has used Signal to conduct regular Pentagon business on his personal phone, including media appearances, foreign travel, his schedule and other unclassified but sensitive information, people familiar with his management practices have said.

He also had an unsecured line set up in his Pentagon office to send text messages and Signal chat to staff, people familiar with the probe said.

The defense chief's messages became public after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor chief of the Atlantic, was inadvertently added to one of the chat groups, which he later made public. "There was no classified information in any Signal chat." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in April.

President Trump has defended Hegseth, but made clear he expected improvements in his running of the Pentagon. Multiple Democrats have called for Hegseth's ouster over the Signal episode, and one Republican -- Rep. Don Bacon (R, Neb.) -- said he believed the Pentagon chief should be fired.

Write to Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com and Nancy A. Youssef at nancy.youssef@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 06, 2025 17:04 ET (21:04 GMT)

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