National Security Leaders for America Calls for Congressional Oversight of National Security Team Communications
April 21, 2025
Washington, DC, April 21, 2025, National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) is calling on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to launch an immediate investigation into the sharing of sensitive military plans by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. NSL4A urges Congress to require regular reporting and oversight of all classified communications from the Administration’s national security leadership, including disclosures, recipients, and the means by which such information is transmitted.
This action is necessary following the New York Times reporting that Secretary Hegseth used the encrypted messaging app Signal to share sensitive battle plans with individuals lacking any official role or security clearance—specifically, his wife, brother, and personal attorney—using unsecured, personal devices.
“This is not just a lapse in judgment; it is a serious operational security failure,” said NSL4A President and Founder, retired Rear Admiral Mike Smith. “We are deeply concerned that the Secretary of Defense, the very person responsible for safeguarding our armed forces, would bypass secure channels and transmit classified planning information to private citizens. This reported recklessness puts our servicemembers at risk and undermines national defense.”
This disclosure appears to be part of a broader pattern of indifference toward operational security and classified safeguards by members of this administration’s national security team. If senior officials cannot be trusted to follow even basic information security protocols, then Congress must act with urgency.
NSL4A specifically calls on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to:
Thoroughly investigate this incident.
Review all sensitive communications practices of senior national security officials, including the Secretaries of Defense and State, the National Security Advisor, and the Directors of National Intelligence, the CIA, NSA, FBI, and the National Counterterrorism Center.
Require classified reports identifying all unauthorized recipients of national security information, with justification and the method of disclosure.
Enforce strict accountability for any violations or lapses.
Many of NSL4A’s members have commanded our nation’s sons and daughters in harm’s way and understand the critical importance of operational security. When leaders fail to uphold these standards, lives are endangered.
“Our national security is not a private matter. If this administration will not police itself, Congress must,” Admiral Smith concluded.
National Security Leaders for America members are available for interviews on the leadership change. To arrange an interview, please contact Dave Petri at dave.petri@nsl4a.org.
