House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is demanding an investigation into the Trump “reckless” administration after a major security breach exposed sensitive Pentagon plans. The breach, revealed by The Atlantic, showed that the magazine’s editor-in-chief was added to a secret group chat discussing military actions against Yemen, raising serious concerns about the handling of classified information.
Jeffries wasted no time calling out the Trump administration, saying it posed a real threat to national security. He stressed the importance of Congress stepping in to uncover how such a breach occurred and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
“There should absolutely be a congressional investigation so that we can understand what happened, why it happened, and how we prevent this type of national security breach from ever happening again,” Jeffries said on Monday after the report broke. “This is reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous.”
Although Jeffries did not name specific individuals involved in the breach, he sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him “the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon.” He also blasted President Trump for prioritizing loyalty over expertise when appointing top officials, accusing the administration of surrounding itself with “lackeys” and “incompetent cronies.”
“We were promised that Donald Trump was going to hire the very best. It’s all phony,” Jeffries charged. “This whole Trump administration is filled with lackeys and incompetent cronies.”
The Atlantic’s bombshell report revealed that Goldberg, the magazine’s editor, was added to a Signal group chat that was initially presented as a simple message exchange. The chat, however, quickly evolved into a discussion about the Pentagon’s secret plans for missile strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen on March 15. The conversation reportedly included Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Hegseth, who shared sensitive details such as weapons systems and strike targets.
The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed the authenticity of the chat and said it was investigating how Goldberg ended up in the conversation. NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes explained that it was an accidental addition to the group but emphasized that the operation was successful and did not pose any risk to national security.
However, many lawmakers, particularly those serving on Armed Services and Intelligence committees, immediately voiced concerns about the severity of the breach and called for a thorough investigation.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), an Army veteran, blasted the situation, saying, “Only one word for this: FUBAR.” He added that if Republicans did not take immediate action, he would personally push for hearings.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), an Air Force veteran, called for mandatory training across the federal government to improve the handling of classified information.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, argued that the officials involved may have violated laws meant to protect national security. He promised to raise the breach at an upcoming intelligence briefing with top administration officials.
“These actions are a brazen violation of laws and regulations designed to protect national security,” Himes said. “If a lower-ranking official had done this, they’d likely lose their clearance and face criminal investigation.”
Jeffries also took aim at the Trump administration for rolling back efforts to promote diversity across federal agencies, arguing that women and minorities in government roles are often more qualified than the officials Trump has placed in power.
“You’ve put these people in charge? In a very dangerous world?” Jeffries said. “These people are incredibly unqualified, irresponsible, and they’re jeopardizing America’s national security.”
