Buttigieg demands accountability over Signal leak in national security
- On March 15, 2021, a Signal chat revealed U.S. war plans, raising national security concerns.
- Buttigieg criticized the administration for the breach, citing his military experience and demanding accountability.
- He argued that without consequences, there is a risk that similar incidents could happen again.
On March 15, 2021, an encrypted Signal chat disclosed sensitive U.S. war plans related to air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Pete Buttigieg, a prominent Democrat and former Transport Secretary, condemned the leak as a significant failure of national security. Appearing on CNN's The Source, he called for accountability among those involved, specifically mentioning National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Buttigieg emphasized that if he had committed such a mistake during his military service, he would have faced grave consequences. The flaw in communication channels used by government officials raised questions about their capacity to manage national security effectively. The incident highlighted the risks of using informal communication methods for serious operational discussions, prompting concern from various political quarters. Critics of the Trump administration pointed to past statements from administration officials condemning Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server, questioning their credibility in light of their own missteps. This contradiction fueled ongoing discussions about the integrity of U.S. national security protocols as a broader concern.