The government’s system is not always optimal for fast-paced environmental officials working on, and signals are an approved alternative for some uncategorized communications, an individual familiar with the government’s communication platform told callers.
The encrypted messaging app has entered the public spotlight after Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a group chat debating a strike against Hoosis by national security adviser Mike Waltz.
The “Houthi PC Small Group” chat included senior officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and Director of Central Intelligence Communications Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe.
Former national security authorities told the caller.
“Even if Americans work for the highest level of government in an office that I think is probably working like a Hollywood movie, they just cut down or pull up emails… a simple webpage can be slow and tedious,” he said. (Related: Trump responds to Atlantic to release leaked attack plans from signal chat)
Some people squeeze hands on what Trump people are signaling. why? You want them to discuss their plans on government servers through traditional deep state channels. The only mistake in this signal chat was Goldberg, intentionally or not…
– Nedryun (@nedryun) March 26, 2025
The Pentagon Watchdog began an investigation into the use of Hegses signals on Thursday.
Trump administration officials denied the “war plan” being included in the chat, claiming that the classified information was not discussed. The Atlantic later published a message that Hegses had sent. This included information about the US strikes in Yemen and, as well as the attack timeline, which weapons would be deployed.
The Atlantic said they notified the administration that they intended to publish the text. Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt told the outlet that none of those shared in the chat was classified, but administrators opposed to releasing messages because they contained sensitive information.
Government platforms are also not always safe. The Pentagon is reportedly targeted every day.
According to NextGov in 2018, the Department of Defense (DOD) will block 36 million emails filled with malware, viruses and phishing schemes from hackers, terrorists and foreign enemies.” Report.
WASHINGTON, DC – March 25: Central Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe (R), FBI Director Kash Patel (L), and National Intelligence Director Tarsi Gabbard (c) will speak at the Intelligence Evaluation Inquiry Committee held in Washington, DC on March 25, 2025. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Foreign enemies like China are also hacking American mobile phones.
“The main problem is that we know that the Chinese have hacked our phone,” the former official told the caller. “[China has] Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage are considered more secure and encrypted because they hacked the regular green bubble message because they call them. ”
Signal downloads have doubled in the US after the chat leak was released. According to For numerical reports in the app. Downloads have also skyrocketed in Yemen.
The signal was communicated when the message, metadata, profile information, contact lists, and when the user was speaking, the president of Signal Foundation Meredith Whittaker. TechCrunch March 2024.
But a former official told the caller he thought the platform was unsafe.
“The Chinese are planning for the F-35,” the source said. “We hacked one side.” (Related: Democrat-appointed district judge orders Trump officials to save texts on Yemen’s strike)
China was accused of hacking US systems in 2009 and illegally obtaining information about the F-35 program. The National Security Agency (NSA) reportedly discovered that hackers stole over 50 terabytes of data from F-35, F-22 and B-2 bombers.
The Biden Administration has allowed signals for certain communications after the CIA approved it on a government device, a Senate leader aide told the caller.
“During the last administration, the CIA approved the use of signals on government equipment for unclassified communications,” the source said. “[That is] Logistics, exchange of uncategorized information, submitting press stories, etc.
“This is primarily a security review and recognition, and the signal is safer, if not more secure than iMessage,” the aide added.
The Biden administration has approved the use of signals to certain White House staff for similar communications, an aide told callers.
“The same security considerations have arisen, but added factors to comply with the Presidential Records Act (PRA),” the source said. “The main consideration is that all these exchanges need to be recorded to comply with the PRA.” (Related: Reporter’s grill Karoline Leavitt on how attack plans are not classified)
The PRA was established in 1978. Rules About the official records of the President and Vice President.
CIA director John Ratcliffe told the Senate Selection Committee after the Atlantic story that signaling is “acceptable” for work use.
“One of the first things I was described by people at CIA Records Management about a very early senator was the use of signals as an acceptable work use,” Ratcliffe said. “It’s a practice that precedes the current administration of the Biden administration.”
