US senators have officially requested a formal investigation into the war plan discussed on Signal chat

On Thursday, the leaders of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee announced that they have requested the Defense Department to investigate discussions among Trump administration officials regarding sensitive attack strategies communicated via the Signal messaging app. This inquiry will also include recommendations for addressing any identified issues.

In a letter addressed to Steven Stebbins, the acting Inspector General of the department, Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who chairs the committee, along with Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat, called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Signal chat. They emphasized the need to evaluate department policies and compliance regarding the sharing of sensitive information.

Stebbins’ office has not yet provided a response to requests for comments. Wicker mentioned on Wednesday that he and Reed intended to send the letter following concerns raised by critics about the potential risk to U.S. troops if the information discussed in the chat were to be compromised.

Additionally, Wicker and Reed requested a review of the Defense Department’s classification and declassification policies, as well as an examination of any differences in the policies of the White House, Pentagon, and various intelligence agencies. They also sought to determine whether any individuals had transferred classified information, including operational details, from classified to unclassified systems, and if so, the manner in which this occurred.

Once the review is complete, they stated in their letter, dated Wednesday, that the Armed Services Committee would collaborate with Stebbins to arrange a briefing. While no Republican members of Congress have called for resignations, some members of Trump’s party have joined Democrats in expressing concern over the Signal chat, which discussed the planned assassination of a Houthi militant in Yemen on March 15.

CABINET SECRETARIES, VP, INTELLIGENCE CHIEFS IN DISCUSSION

The discussion featured National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was unaware that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, was unintentionally included in the conversation.

A significant number of Democrats have demanded the resignations of Hegseth and other participants in the discussion. As administration officials have addressed the situation, sometimes attempting to minimize its significance, they have concentrated on whether any shared information was classified and which agency might have classified it. They have also maintained that the conversation did not involve “war plans,” despite the messages detailing the timing of the planned attack and the equipment, including aircraft, that would be utilized.

“I am shocked by the serious security breach involving senior administration officials,” stated Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski on X.com. “Their negligence regarding strict security protocols and secure communication channels could have jeopardized a critical operation and endangered our servicemembers. I hope this incident serves as a crucial reminder that operational security must be prioritized by everyone—especially our leaders,” she added.

The Defense Department’s inspector general, a nonpartisan official responsible for identifying waste, fraud, and abuse, is among several officials dismissed by Trump since he began his second term in January. Trump has yet to appoint a permanent successor.