US Defense Secretary installed Signal app on Pentagon computer, sources say

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the installation of Signal, a commercially available encrypted messaging application, onto a desktop computer in his Pentagon office, according to three individuals familiar with the matter. 

By setting up Signal in his Pentagon office, Hegseth effectively “cloned” the app from his personal cellphone, enabling real-time messaging in a classified space where mobile phones and other personal electronics are prohibited, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the workaround was devised as a means to “circumvent the lack of cellphone service in much of the Pentagon” and to more quickly coordinate with the White House and senior officials in the Trump administration.

Hegseth’s installation of Signal has raised concerns about whether he and his aides have adhered to federal recordkeeping laws, which require the preservation of official communications. “It’s also unclear whether Hegseth and his team of political advisers has adhered to U.S. law that would require them to preserve such messages,” said individuals with knowledge of the situation.

While Hegseth’s use of the app appears to have been partially motivated by convenience and security, it has nonetheless sparked significant backlash, particularly following reports that he used Signal to share operational details about a military mission in Yemen. These details, shared in group chats created by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Hegseth himself, allegedly included timelines for the operation, aircraft and weapons specifications, and information that revealed when U.S. troops would be at risk — material that would almost certainly be considered classified.

“Signalgate,” as the scandal has come to be known, intensified after The Atlantic reported that Waltz had mistakenly added a journalist to one of the Signal groups planning the Yemen operation. The group included top figures such as Waltz, Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Despite the uproar, Hegseth’s spokesperson Sean Parnell maintained that, “the defense secretary’s use of communications systems and channels is classified,” adding that Hegseth “has never used and does not currently use Signal on his government computer.” However, this statement stands in contrast with accounts from two individuals familiar with Hegseth’s work habits, who assert that Signal was installed on a second computer in his office and that he expressed interest in installing additional software to send conventional text messages.

Although the Biden administration approved Signal for limited government use in 2023, it is not cleared for the transmission of classified or highly sensitive materials. Former defense officials argue that the information shared by Hegseth on the app falls squarely into that category.

The Pentagon, known for its strict protocols around secure communications, was reportedly unaware that Signal had been installed on a desktop inside Hegseth’s office. “Its usage is less common, though, in the Pentagon, where few were aware Hegseth had the program installed on an office computer,” said one of the sources.

By Vugar Khalilov