In a rare display of dissent, top Republican senators are urging an investigation into the Signal leak scandal, warning that failure to address the issue could create a “significant political problem.” Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized the situation, saying it stemmed from a lack of organization within the Trump administration.
The controversy erupted after revelations that senior national security officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had unknowingly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a private Signal chat discussing military strikes on Yemen. On Wednesday, The Atlantic released additional messages detailing attack plans, including targets and timing.
While intelligence officials Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe insisted no classified information was shared, growing concerns have led Republican lawmakers to push for Senate committees to investigate. Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Armed Services Committee, announced plans to request a Pentagon investigation. Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who created the chat, accepted responsibility but blamed a mistaken contact entry for Goldberg’s inclusion.
The incident has deepened divisions within the Republican Party. Some view Waltz as a key advocate for a stronger foreign policy, while others, including Trump-aligned Republicans like Vance, oppose interventionist strategies. Despite the controversy, Trump defended Waltz, calling him a “very good man.”
Adding to the scrutiny, the watchdog group American Oversight has sued Trump officials, arguing that their use of Signal violates federal records laws.
Trump dismissed the scandal as a “witch hunt” and criticized Signal’s reliability, while Secretary of State Rubio acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to human error.
