White House Probes Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Sensitive Administration Group Chat on Yemen Airstrikes

The White House announced on Monday that it is investigating an incident involving the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, who was mistakenly included in a group text conversation. This group chat reportedly involved individuals who appeared to be members of President Donald Trump’s administration discussing potential airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. The editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that he was added to a group chat named “Houthi PC small group” on March 13 through Signal, an encrypted messaging application.

Goldberg detailed the incident in an article published while a Cabinet meeting was taking place at the White House on Monday afternoon. He explained that he was added to the group chat by an account that bore the name of Mike Waltz, the White House national security adviser. The situation has raised questions about the security and confidentiality of communications within the administration.

In response to the incident, the National Security Council issued a statement to NBC News, acknowledging the authenticity of the message thread reported by Goldberg. The council stated that they are currently reviewing how an unintended number was included in the communication chain. This development has prompted a closer examination of the protocols surrounding secure communications within the government.

The accidental inclusion of a journalist in a sensitive discussion highlights potential vulnerabilities in the use of encrypted messaging apps for official communications. As the White House continues its review, the incident underscores the importance of ensuring secure and controlled communication channels in matters of national security.