Judge mandates preservation of Signal messages detailing military strike plans
- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of military communication records.
- The text chat involved high-level national security officials discussing sensitive military operations.
- The preservation of these messages is seen as essential for ensuring transparency and accountability within the government.
In the United States, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to preserve records of a text message chat that included sensitive military details about a planned strike against Yemen's Houthis. This order was issued by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg during a hearing on March 28, 2025. The judge's ruling was a response to a lawsuit from the nonprofit watchdog, American Oversight, which sought to prevent the destruction of records sent through the encrypted messaging app Signal. The messages dated from March 11 to March 15, 2025, detailed specific operational timings related to warplane launches and attack strategies against the Houthis. Additionally, the judge emphasized that the preservation of these messages would not impose undue hardship on the government as the administration had already been taking steps to collect the relevant information. This case highlights concerns about the transparency of government operations and communication, especially in regards to military actions that could impact foreign relations and civilian lives.