“SECRET/NOFORN” Bombshell Exposes Classified Leak in Trump Pentagon
What Pete Hegseth Shared on Signal Came From a Secret Email, Watchdog Told
The defense secretary’s unclassified chat leaked U.S. strike details. It now appears those details were classified, contradicting months of denials.
Evidence Ties Signal Chat to Secret-Labeled Email
The Pentagon’s inspector general has obtained evidence that a Signal message from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s account, which outlined strike plans against Houthi militants in Yemen, was copied from an email labeled “SECRET/NOFORN,” according to The Washington Post.
That email was originally sent by Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, via the SIPRNet system reserved for classified communications. The information was later reposted to at least two unclassified Signal group chats, one of which included a journalist from The Atlantic.
The disclosure sharply undercuts months of public denials by senior Trump administration officials, who have repeatedly insisted that no classified information was shared via unclassified channels.
From Secret Cable to Unsecured Chat
On March 15, ahead of the U.S. strike campaign against Houthi forces, Gen. Kurilla shared a classified situational update with more than a dozen defense officials. The email included operational details such as strike timing, aircraft to be used, and weapon types.
That update was reportedly copied by someone with access to Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Signal account and posted in group chats using the unsecured messaging app. According to four people familiar with the matter, the original email was labeled “SECRET/NOFORN,” marking the information as highly restricted and unsuitable for foreign dissemination.
An Inspector General Inquiry and a Deepening Scandal
The Defense Department’s inspector general is investigating who posted the message to Signal and whether Hegseth, or others using his account, understood the classification level of the material.
One such person, Marine Col. Ricky Buria, had access to Hegseth’s personal phone and, according to individuals interviewed by investigators, claimed to have typed the controversial message himself. Buria has not commented publicly.
The fallout has been swift. Hegseth has faced bipartisan calls for resignation, a barrage of questioning during congressional hearings, and ongoing scrutiny from watchdogs. Meanwhile, multiple officials connected to the Signal chats, including former National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, have departed or been reassigned.
Denials and Deflections
Despite mounting evidence, the Trump administration continues to defend Hegseth’s actions. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the Post that "no classified information was shared via Signal," echoing earlier statements.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly went further, criticizing the Washington Post for what she called "unverified articles" and asserting that the administration had successfully executed operations in Yemen and Iran without compromising security.
Yet the classification of Kurilla’s original email, verified by four sources, appears to directly refute these claims.
A Culture of Mixed Signals
This is not the first time the Trump Pentagon has been accused of lax security practices. The Signal chat scandal joins a string of incidents involving unauthorized information sharing and insufficient oversight.
National security experts argue that even if no harm occurred, the breach reflects a dangerous erosion of basic classification protocols.
“It is not classified to disclose whether something is classified,” Rep. Seth Moulton said during a House hearing. “If it was on SIPRNet, it was classified. End of story.”
Closing Note
The Signal scandal may ultimately fade as new crises emerge. But the precedent it sets endures. When high-level officials disregard classification standards, it blurs the line between intention and negligence. And when accountability stalls, the damage is not just procedural. It is institutional.
Timeline
March 15: Strike plans shared by Kurilla over SIPRNet
March 15: Message appears in Signal group chat
March 27: Judge orders preservation of Signal messages
April: Col. Buria files retirement paperwork
June: Hegseth testifies before Congress
July 23: WaPo reveals email labeled “SECRET/NOFORN”
Fact Box
Kurilla's message was sent on a classified system (SIPRNet)
Labeled “SECRET/NOFORN” meaning no foreign distribution
Reposted on Signal chat including a journalist
IG investigation is ongoing
Col. Ricky Buria reportedly typed the message
Trump administration denies wrongdoing
Sidebar
What is SIPRNet?
The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is the U.S. military's classified internet system. It is used exclusively for transmitting material labeled Secret and below. Sharing SIPRNet content over unclassified platforms violates multiple Defense Department protocols.