Priyanka Tiwari
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A major security breach has exposed the personal information of top US national security leaders, including email addresses, phone numbers, and in some cases, passwords. According to a report by Der Spiegel, the source of the leak was a poorly secured Signal group chat that had been used to coordinate sensitive military operations in Yemen.
Among the affected officials are:
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
Der Spiegel and The Guardian reported that much of this data could be accessed through public business databases or traced from prior data breaches. Some leaked email addresses were linked to services like Dropbox and location tracking platforms, raising grave concerns over digital security practices.
Pete Hegseth’s Digital Trail Easiest to Trace
The investigation found that Hegseth's personal data had been exposed in over 20 previous breaches, with his email still active and his phone number linked to a recently deleted WhatsApp account — making him especially vulnerable to surveillance.
Sensitive Military Coordination Leaked
The Signal chat was reportedly used to plan airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen during a March 15 operation. Senior figures including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also part of the group.
The situation escalated when Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist, was mistakenly invited to the group by Mike Waltz. Goldberg later published parts of the conversation, exposing the administration's internal military strategy.
White House Responds Amid Growing Criticism
President Donald Trump has backed Pete Hegseth, calling the media storm a "witch-hunt", insisting he was not responsible for the breach. However, bipartisan criticism continues to rise, with lawmakers warning about the use of unsecured communication apps by high-ranking officials.
Security experts have warned that linking official phone numbers to apps like Signal and WhatsApp could allow foreign intelligence agencies to track conversations in real-time, especially if proper cybersecurity hygiene isn’t maintained.
Officials Silent, NSC Downplays Severity
The National Security Council (NSC) released a brief statement claiming the leaked passwords were updated in 2019, but did not address broader concerns. Meanwhile, the affected officials — Waltz, Gabbard, and Hegseth — have declined to comment.
This breach raises fresh concerns about digital security lapses within the Trump administration, especially as global adversaries actively monitor US military and political operations.
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