Act Now: Congress must investigate the Signal leak & demand Hegseth’s resignation

When it comes to security, the decisions and culture start at the top.

Pamela, despite campaign promises to end wars, days ago Trump launched a wave of deadly strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Dozens of people have been killed, including women and children. The U.S. government is once again fueling a humanitarian crisis and pushing an entire region toward all-out war, all without any authorization from Congress.

It turns out that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the likely classified plan to carry out these deadly, ineffective, and potentially illegal bombings in an unauthorized Signal group chat, where high Trump administration officials celebrated the strikes with fist bump emojis. No one thought to confirm whether the members had proper clearance and were not, say, journalists.

They should have. Groundbreaking reports confirm Atlantic Monthly editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the chat. Now, Hegseth, charged with maintaining the operational security of classified U.S. military information, is working to cover his tracks, stating, "Nobody was texting war plans, and that's all I have to say about that."[1]

Well, he'd better find something more to say, because we're not the only ones demanding answers. Democratic lawmakers, including multiple House Armed Service Committee members, are furiously calling for an investigation and repercussions. Meanwhile, the White House is racing to control the message and get Republican allies to defend the leak.

As a PR power struggle plays out, the safety and security of millions of people hangs in the balance. Pamela, your voice can tip the scales toward accountability.

This is the moment to turn up the pressure and ensure everyone on Capitol Hill knows we want answers — and that we won't stop pushing until we get them. When it comes to security, the decisions and culture start at the top. Sign now to demand Congress investigate the leak and demand Hegseth's resignation.

ACT NOW

The Secretary of Defense oversees the largest and most powerful military in the world. This role demands, at the very least, a leader who prioritizes people's well-being, is willing to root out corruption, understands the military should be a tool of last resort, and approaches our common security with seriousness and responsibility.

We knew that would be a tall order for Hegseth. That's why we opposed his nomination from the start. His incompetence is a potential threat to the safety and security of millions of people at home and around the globe.

Goldberg has since released more of the texts he received, proving that, despite Hegseth's claims, he did receive "precise details" of the attack on the Houthis — including the specific time, targets, and sequencing of the operation that would follow.[2] The National Security Council has confirmed that the war plans Hegseth texted were real.[1] There's more: Just yesterday, NPR reported that a Pentagon-wide advisory warning against using Signal was released last week, noting "Google has identified Russian hacking groups who are "targeting Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest."[3]

It's a stunning and unprecedented security failure.

We know how this story goes, Pamela: Decades of trying to bomb our way to peace have only led to failure after failure. From Iraq to Afghanistan to Somalia to Syria to Yemen itself, time and time and time again, more U.S. bombs have only accelerated the fires of war. It's as dangerous a strategy as it is misguided.

Now, add a Defense Secretary's cavalier attitude and lack of integrity into the mix. If you're outraged, you're not alone — but that's why we can get results. The Senate confirmed Hegseth with the narrowest majority. By speaking out today, we can remind members of Congress that Trump's pick for Defense Secretary is still politically toxic. We demand better.

Pamela, no matter how you spin it, the story leads to the same conclusion: Congress must investigate and Hegseth should resign. Sign now if you agree.

Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team

1. The New York Times, "What to Know About the Fallout From the Signal Group Chat Leak" (gift link) 
2. The Atlantic, "Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump's Advisers Shared on Signal"
3. NPR, "Ahead of the Signal Leak, the Pentagon Warned of the App's Weaknesses"

 

 

 

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