Released on December 2, 2025, the DoD Inspector General’s evaluation (Report No. DODIG-2026-021) scrutinizes Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s reported reliance on the Signal app for official business, including sensitive discussions around U.S. airstrikes on Houthi forces in Yemen. Prompted by a March 26, 2025, Senate Armed Services Committee request following exposés in The Atlantic, the probe determined that Hegseth, from a SCIF at Fort McNair, shared nonpublic operational info — matching SECRET//NOFORN USCENTCOM emails — via a personal device, breaching DoD Instruction 8170.01. Auto-delete settings erased records, violating federal retention laws. As an original classification authority, Hegseth defended his “unclassified summaries,” but the OIG highlighted risks to personnel and missions. Recommendations include USCENTCOM reviewing portion marking procedures (now closed), with broader training suggested in companion report DODIG-2026-022. This case underscores ongoing issues with non-government apps in classified environments.