In the wake of a high-profile messaging mishap involving U.S. military plans, CIA Director John Ratcliffe defended the use of Signal, an encrypted messaging platform, for internal government communications, calling it a “permissible” practice within federal agencies.
Ratcliffe made the remarks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, addressing growing concerns after The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat involving top Trump administration officials. The chat reportedly contained sensitive operational details about a planned U.S. military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“So that we’re clear, one of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers,” Ratcliffe said. “One of the first things that I was briefed on very early… was the use of Signal as a permissible work use.”
READ: Trump Backs National Security Advisor Mike Waltz After Journalist Added To Yemen Strike Group Chat
Watch the heated exchange between Sen. Ossoff (D-GA) and CIA Director Ratcliffe:
Ratcliffe added that the practice has been standard across multiple administrations and is in accordance with CIA records and communications policies.
The hearing turned tense when Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) sharply criticized Ratcliffe over the incident, calling it a national security failure and an embarrassment.
“This is an embarrassment. This is utterly unprofessional. There’s been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error,” Ossoff said. “We will get the full transcript of this chain and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.”
According to Goldberg’s report published Monday, the Signal thread included detailed messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlining strike targets, weapon types, and attack timing. The group chat featured several high-level officials, including:
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe
- Vice President J.D. Vance
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
- Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
- Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller
Goldberg claims he was added to the chat inadvertently by Waltz, who did not realize he had included a journalist in a discussion surrounding active military operations. Goldberg remained in the chat until March 15 at 1:45 p.m. ET, when the strikes occurred as described—prompting him to exit.
The White House confirmed the chat’s existence Monday and said it was investigating how Goldberg’s number was included. While some questioned the legality of using a private messaging app to discuss military actions, Ratcliffe and Gabbard told the Senate committee that no classified information was shared in the chat.
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“There was no breach of classified material,” Gabbard said. “What was discussed was within the boundaries of secure and permissible communication.”
President Donald Trump said he had not been briefed on Goldberg’s story but stood by National Security Advisor Waltz, stating the incident was a mistake and that Waltz had “learned a lesson.”
Goldberg also reported that Vice President Vance expressed hesitation in the group chat about the planned strike, suggesting the action could contradict Trump’s hardline messaging on Europe.
The episode has raised new questions about digital communication protocols at the highest levels of government, particularly in fast-moving military and intelligence matters. While Signal’s encryption is widely trusted, the informal nature of such platforms has prompted concerns over accidental disclosures and lack of oversight.
READ: Top Trump Officials Accidentally Shared Yemen Strike Plans With Journalist In Signal Chat
Despite the uproar, Ratcliffe emphasized that Signal remains a secure and approved platform for certain levels of internal government communication — and that the platform’s use predates both the Trump and Biden administrations.
As the investigation into the leak continues, congressional leaders are expected to revisit policies governing digital communications among senior officials. For now, the White House maintains that no classified data was compromised and that future guidance may be issued to prevent similar incidents.
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