The Insider

Trump and Hegseth make trillion-dollar defense promise
By Tony Bertuca
April 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM

President Trump said in the Oval Office today that the upcoming U.S. defense budget will be near $1 trillion, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posting on social media that the massive Pentagon topline is "coming soon."

Trump, in an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the White House has approved a defense budget “in the [vicinity]" of $1 trillion.

“Nobody has seen anything like it,” he said. “We're going to be approving a budget and I'm proud to say the biggest one we've ever done for the military.”

Hegseth later posted on X, thanking Trump.

“COMING SOON: the first TRILLION dollar @DeptofDefense budget,” he wrote. “President@realDonaldTrump is rebuilding our military -- and FAST. (PS: we intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely -- on lethality and readiness).”

Neither the Pentagon nor the White House responded to additional requests for comment and it remains unclear when the Trump administration will submit its fiscal year 2026 budget. Some analysts predict the budget could be released in late May, while others say a “skinny” budget might be announced with only topline information and little to no detail.

Trump, it should be noted, felt differently in February when he said he wanted to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladmir Putin to reduce their nuclear arsenals and cut military spending "in half."

The promise of a $1 trillion defense budget also comes as DOD is crafting its own 8% budget “re-look” for FY-26 and beyond, which would cut about $50 billion annually from existing spending and re-allocate toward new priorities.

The Pentagon is also in the midst of cutting between 5% and 8% of its total civilian workforce.

Trump’s promise of $1 trillion also follows the passage of a yearlong continuing resolution that amounts to a cut in defense spending because the topline does not keep pace with inflation, reducing Pentagon buying power.

SDA seeks proposals for next slate of missile tracking satellites
By Shelley K. Mesch
April 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM

The Space Development Agency today posted a request for proposals for the next set of missile warning/missile tracking satellites for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The Tranche 3 Tracking Layer builds upon the yet-to-launch Tranche 1 and in-development Tranche 2 satellites as the agency seeks to deliver upgraded technology to warfighters by adding to the low-Earth orbit constellation every few years.

SDA is planning 54 satellites for T3TRK with infrared sensors in six orbital planes. SDA may purchase the satellites from more than one vendor.

Proposals are due May 22, and the first set of T3TRKs is scheduled for launch in spring 2029.

Deferred resignation available to most Air Force, Space Force civilians
By Shelley K. Mesch
April 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM

Air and Space Forces civilian employees can apply for the Defense Department’s Deferred Resignation Program or Voluntary Early Retirement Authority until April 14 as part of the Air Force Department’s workforce reduction efforts.

“To reduce the size of our civilian workforce by 5-8% in the coming months and strategically restructure, the DAF will execute a broad outreach campaign to maximize employee awareness and opportunity to participate in these voluntary programs,” acting Assistant Air Force Secretary Gwendolyn DeFilippi wrote in a memo Friday.

Several categories are not eligible for DRP or VERA, she wrote:

  • Flight instructors.
  • Highly Qualified Experts.
  • Childcare and youth program employees.
  • Non-Appropriated Fund employees.
  • Foreign Local National employees
  • Dual-Status Military Technicians.
  • Re-Employed Annuitants.

Employees who accept DRP or VERA could be placed on paid administrative leave no earlier than May 1 before officially resigning or retiring Sept. 30.

Some employees had already accepted such programs, officials told reporters last month, before this window opened.

Some officials have warned that losing civilians could damage or slow the work done by the services.

“DAF supports a large portion of the workforce participating in these programs while ensuring the Air Force and Space Force maintain operational readiness and the ability to perform mission essential functions,” DeFelippi wrote, with emphasis. “Employees are not approved for DRP immediately upon application.”

Once the application period ends, the department will evaluate how the resignations or retirements may affect various teams and may implement additional exemptions for the programs, DeFelippi wrote. Should further exemptions, the department will prioritize VERA applicants.

To apply for VERA and retire with full benefits, employees must be at least 50 years old with at least 20 years of federal service of any age with at least 25 years of service.

Officials can ask for deadline extensions for employees who are not able to complete the applications in time and were on approved absence during the application window. Those extensions need to be requested before April 21.

Lockheed delivers first Air Force 3DELRR
By Vanessa Montalbano
April 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM

The Air Force will soon begin developmental testing of Lockheed Martin’s Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar following delivery of the first system, according to a company news release issued today.

“The successful completion of early phase testing and delivery of the first TPY-4 radar system underscores our dedication to providing the U.S. Air Force with cutting-edge, high-performance systems that meet their evolving requirements and expectations," Rick Cordaro, vice president of Lockheed’s radar and sensor systems, said in a statement. "The 3DELRR program is of the utmost importance to air surveillance and defense capabilities worldwide, as well as defending the nation."

3DELRR, the service’s new long-range, ground-based sensor, is meant to replace the 1970s-era Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-75 radar. The new system can tap into a mobile command and control center the Air Force may deploy in theater to track or detect aerial targets, like aircraft or ballistic missiles.

Each new radar system includes the TPY-4 sensor, a pair of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, one trailer and four micro-grid generators.

The Air Force in 2020 canceled an original contract with RTX subsidiary Raytheon to develop 3DELRR due to numerous technical and supplier challenges. Lockheed was then awarded a new deal to produce the radar system in 2022.

The Air Force previously said initial operational capability for six radars would be achieved in fiscal year 2024, but fielding the system has proven more difficult amid testing and production hurdles.

An FY-24 report released Jan. 31 from the Pentagon’s chief weapons tester indicated that formal government-led developmental testing paused last year because of “system deficiencies and transitioned to a risk-reduction event after one of four planned weeks of testing.”

The problems discovered included operational effectiveness and 3DELRR suitability, the report stated.

To allow Lockheed time to troubleshoot those issues, the Air Force pushed developmental testing back one year from the second quarter of FY-24 to the second quarter of FY-25, according to the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.

The projected timeline for 3DELRR Initial Operational Test and Evaluation has also slid, the report notes, from the third quarter of FY-25 to the first quarter of FY-26.

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 7, 2025
By John Liang
April 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy's future warship spending plans, the possibility of U.S. Northern and Southern commands merging into a single combatant command and more.

We start off with coverage of the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space symposium taking place this week:

Facing budget pressure, Navy may look to retire or reduce spending on cruisers and other aging platforms

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- As the Navy faces spending pressure from the full-year continuing resolution and a Pentagon-wide budget review, it may look to retire or scale back spending on aging platforms like cruisers as it prioritizes personnel, munitions and capacity for shipbuilding and unmanned systems, the sea service's top officer said today.

(Read our full Sea-Air-Space coverage.)

Could U.S. Northern and Southern commands be merged into a single combatant command? Some lawmakers aren't on board just yet:

Trump official sidesteps COCOM consolidation questions amid congressional pushback

A Trump administration official declined to provide clear answers last week on whether the U.S. military plans to consolidate its combatant command structure, amid intensifying concerns from lawmakers and warnings from senior commanders about the potential risks such changes could pose to national security.

Document: NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM FY-26 posture statements

New NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 indefinite-delivery requirements contracts have been awarded to SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin, according to a Space Force announcement:

Three providers awarded $13.7B for space launches

The Space Force has awarded National Security Space Launch missions to three vendors, totaling more than $13.7 billion over the five-year contracting window.

On April 4, the Missile Defense Agency, in partnership with the Space Force, announced a three-day event from April 30 to May 2 in Huntsville, AL, to brief industry on the scope of the Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) program and gather technical ideas for what could become a centerpiece of the Trump administration's new missile shield:

Pentagon summons industry to help build space-based interceptors for Golden Dome

The Defense Department is taking a critical next step in its drive to build a space-based missile shield over the United States, inviting a broad array of companies -- including non-traditional defense firms -- to contribute concepts for a potential network of orbital interceptors capable of striking enemy missiles during launch.

Document: MDA notice on SBI industry event

Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the head of U.S. European Command, testified at a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing:

EUCOM warns of Russian land buildup as Army eyes cuts in wake of Hegseth budget drill

The Army is reportedly weighing the most significant troop reduction in years, even as military commanders in Europe warn that Russia is reconstituting its land forces at a speed and scale which could challenge NATO deterrence before the alliance fully rebuilds its own.

Document: EUCOM, AFRICOM FY-26 posture statements

HII delivers initial Lionfish to Navy
By Abby Shepherd
April 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- The first two Lionfish small uncrewed undersea vehicles have been delivered to the Navy, shipbuilder HII announced today.

Lionfish -- part of HII’s REMUS 300 class -- is modular with an open architecture and was developed through collaboration between the Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit. The Navy awarded HII a contract worth over $347 million in 2023 for the potential delivery of 200 vehicles.

“This delivery represents a key milestone in the Lionfish program,” Duane Fotheringham, president of uncrewed systems for HII’s Mission Technologies Division, said in a news release. “The success and on-time delivery of Lionfish is the product of close collaboration between the government and industry team that will put a critical mine hunting capability in the hands of sailors and marines in an operationally relevant time frame.”

In a panel on autonomous undersea warfare in March, Fotheringham shared that HII will deliver over 100 small-class UUVs this year for the Navy’s Lionfish program.

HII, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries look to collaborate on ship production under new MOU
By Nick Wilson
April 7, 2025 at 9:51 AM

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- United States shipbuilder HII have signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to "explore opportunities to collaborate on accelerating ship production" for both defense and commercial work, the companies announced today.

Signed by executives from the two companies this morning during the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space conference, the MOU is the latest indication of increased collaboration between the U.S. and South Korean shipbuilding industries.

It connects HII -- a U.S. shipbuilding giant involved in the production of most of the Navy’s surface and undersea fleet including its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and both the Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine programs -- with one of the largest shipbuilders in the world in HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

The initial focus of the partnership will be an exchange of technologies and lessons learned, with the potential for “component outsourcing” to follow, HII Executive Vice President and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding Brian Blanchette told reporters following the signing. HII will soon host a delegation from HHI at its U.S. facilities, Blanchette said.

“Today’s agreement reflects our commitment to explore all opportunities to expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity in support of national security,” Blanchette said. “By working with our shipbuilding allies and sharing best practices, we believe this MOU offers real potential to help accelerate delivery of quality ships.”

The partnership is intended to “leverage the combined expertise and resources of both companies to advance technological innovation, maximize production efficiency, and strengthen the global defense industry,” according to an HII press release.

“This partnership marks a new milestone for both of our companies and provides us with the unique opportunity to expand our expertise in shipbuilding,” said Won-ho Joo, chief executive of HHI’s naval and special ship business unit. “We look forward to working with HII to explore new possibilities and deliver even greater value to our customers.”

As the U.S. shipbuilding industry looks for ways to boost ship and submarine output, the Navy has encouraged South Korean and other international shipbuilders to invest in U.S. industry, with former Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro saying a “cash infusion” from foreign companies could improve production capacity.

Last summer, South Korean defense conglomerate Hanwha purchased Philadelphia-based Philly Shipyard where it plans to take on ship and submarine module fabrication work.

General Atomics, Rafael announce partnership to build precision-guided missile for U.S. forces
By Nick Wilson
April 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Defense companies General Atomics and Rafael are entering a partnership to produce a long-range, precision-guided strike missile to meet multiple United States military service requirements, the companies announced today at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space conference.

Dubbed “Bullseye” by the companies, the missile will provide “multiplatform launch capabilities from air, ground and sea for strike mass at an affordable price point,” the announcement states.

Under a memorandum of understanding with the Israeli firm Rafael, General Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems group (GA-EMS) will become a U.S.-based manufacturer of the missile. The company plans to build the missiles at manufacturing facilities in Tupelo, MS.

A General Atomics spokesperson declined to specify which U.S. service branches are expected to use the missile, but said it is designed to be launched first from the air, followed by ground and sea and can “support various mission parameters and [operational concepts] without changing the basic missile configuration and profile making it an appealing solution for all services and joint operations.”

“GA-EMS has responded to numerous inquiries from potential customers across the services to help align the capabilities of the Bullseye missile with the needs of those customers looking for a highly capable, precision-guided missile,” the spokesperson added.

The missile’s design is currently at technology readiness level eight, the announcement states, with Rafael having already performed aerodynamics, engine, seeker and launch integration testing. Further testing to demonstrate flight qualification and operational readiness is expected to begin in late 2025.

“We are excited to work with Rafael to introduce Bullseye, a highly effective, deep-strike missile. Bullseye will be built in the U.S. for delivery to U.S. military customers to support a variety of critical Department of Defense and coalition partners’ precision-fires missions,” GA-EMS President Scott Forney said in a statement included in the release.

“By leveraging Rafael’s extensive investment in the design, maturation and testing of a unique, modular missile, we can reduce risk and development costs and provide production-scale delivery of a highly capable, high-performance, precision-guided missile at significant per-unit cost-savings,” Forney’s statement continued.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
April 7, 2025 at 5:05 AM

Fiscal year 2026 posture is in full swing on Capitol Hill and senior leaders are scheduled to speak at numerous congressional hearings. The Navy League is also hosting its annual Sea Air Space Conference.

Monday

The Navy League hosts its annual Sea Air Space Conference in National Harbor, MD.

Tuesday

The Senate Armed Services strategic forces committee holds a closed hearing on the Sentinel program.

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing to consider several defense nominees.

The Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee holds a hearing on nuclear shipbuilding.

The Senate Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command.

The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on U.S. military posture and security challenges in Europe.

The House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee holds a hearing with the National Security Commission for Emerging Biotechnology.

Wednesday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on DOD personnel policies.

The Senate Armed Services cybersecurity subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing on U.S. Cyber Command.

The House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee holds a hearing on the strategic posture of the United States.

The House Armed Services intelligence and special operations subcommittee holds a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command.

The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Indo-Pacific region.

Thursday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

Saildrone partners with Thales to test sonar system on USV
By Abby Shepherd
April 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Unmanned surface vessel developer Saildrone -- in partnership with Thales Australia -- recently successfully integrated an autonomous payload with its Surveyor USV, both companies announced during Sea-Air-Space.

In recent sea trials funded by the Office of Naval Research, Thales’ BlueSentry thin-line towed array sonar system was paired with Saildrone’s Surveyor. When integrated, the project demonstrated the two components “can effectively detect and classify both underwater and surface threats and report this information to decision makers in real time,” according to a Saildrone news release.

During the trial, the USV and BlueSentry sonar system operated for 26 continuous days, maintaining uptime greater than 96%. The system uses Starlink and Iridium satellites to secure data transmission, according to the release.

“The acoustic performance of the BlueSentry array, paired with a platform as silent and capable as the Saildrone Surveyor, represents a considerable step forward in undersea observation,” Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins said in a news release. “The extreme endurance of the system allows us to put eyes and ears in places that were previously out of reach, at a cost point orders of magnitude below traditional manned surveillance platforms.”

The sea trials follow recent moves by Saildrone to improve operations in GPS-denied environments. The company announced a new positioning system in March, one that allows USVs to operate in places with no access to GPS.

The INSIDER daily digest -- April 4, 2025
By John Liang
April 4, 2025 at 1:05 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Russia's military manpower buildup, plus Army Materiel Command's use of AI in its supply chain and more.

Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the head of U.S. European Command, testified this week at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing:

EUCOM warns of Russian land buildup as Army eyes cuts in wake of Hegseth budget drill

The Army is reportedly weighing the most significant troop reduction in years, even as military commanders in Europe warn that Russia is reconstituting its land forces at a speed and scale which could challenge NATO deterrence before the alliance fully rebuilds its own.

Document: EUCOM, AFRICOM FY-26 posture statements

Inside Defense recently chatted with a senior Army Materiel Command official in Alabama on the sidelines of a big AUSA convention:

Army Materiel Command wants to use AI to identify critical supply chain gaps

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- When Richard Martin, the director of supply chain management at Army Materiel Command, wants to find out more information about a long-lead item, he can see how many vendors are on contract and which ones have delivered on time. But Martin and his AMC team want to know more.

(Read our full AUSA coverage.)

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman spoke to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission this week:

Space Force needs S&T funding to compete with China’s space efforts

The Space Force will need to secure more funding for early-stage developments that have the potential to fail if the U.S. hopes to remain competitive with China in future space capabilities, according to the service's top officer.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), in a Washington Post op-ed, wrote this week that the "opening salvo" of the reconciliation package, combined with his acquisition reform proposal and an "additional real growth" in the defense topline for fiscal year 2026, would be akin to a good "opening act":

Wicker sees GOP budget resolution as 'opening act' for major defense surge

Senate Republicans have proposed a budget reconciliation package that would pump $150 billion into the U.S. defense topline in the coming years, with one senior GOP chairman laying out an ambitious vision for new spending and reform that he says would mirror the Reagan and Eisenhower eras.

The first GENUS regional repair element will be housed within the Support Center Pacific at Kadena Air Base, Japan and operated by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex:

First Air Force GENUS nodes to stand up in Japan in three to five years

The Air Force Sustainment Center is finalizing plans with Japan to establish the first Regional Repair Facility via the Global Enterprise Network for Universal Sustainment in the next three to five years, Inside Defense has learned, but a pilot program could arrive in as soon as one year.

L3Harris' SPEIR passive sensor system scheduled for destroyer installation in 2027
By Nick Wilson
April 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM

The first operational unit of a developing passive sensing and targeting system designed by L3Harris for use on Navy surface ships is expected to be installed aboard an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in 2027 and integrated with the vessel's Aegis Combat System, according to company executives.

L3Harris was selected by the Navy to build this system -- the Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic/Infrared (SPEIR) -- in 2022, receiving an initial $205 million award with a potential value of up to $593 million if all options are exercised.

The program completed its critical design review in March 2024 and is now expected to deliver a “demonstration asset” later this year to begin testing with the Navy, according to Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris.

The passive system uses electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) imagery sensors and is designed to complement the active radar systems already used on surface ships, Rambeau told reporters ahead of the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space conference.

“This is really designed to complement the active radar systems that are onboard surface ships, so that they can operate ‘lights out,’ and turn that radar off when they don't want to be exposed and identify themselves as a target, and instead use a passive system that doesn't emit any energy to be able to do long-range detection, categorization and tracking of targets,” he said.

In addition to this “lights out” application, Rambeau said SPEIR will improve upon existing systems by providing a longer-range detection capability and by using artificial intelligence to identify and classify targets.

“You may not get the range of a SPY radar, but you will get a very long-range, accurate EO/IR that will give you a visual picture of what it is out there with a fairly high resolution in many cases,” he said. “It should be able, with the AI capability, to start working through a catalog of known assets to categorize and prioritize threats.”

To date, the program has successfully completed six software build reviews and three design verification test events at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division in Indiana and at the Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory (DESIL) in California, an L3Harris spokesperson told Inside Defense.

L3Harris is currently procuring materials to support engineering development model unit builds in 2025 and the start of system level environmental and functional qualification testing in late 2025, the spokesperson said.

Army to brief industry on future contract plans at Aberdeen this month
By Dominic Minadeo
April 4, 2025 at 10:44 AM

The Army will brief industry in late April on the service's projected program goals and potential contracting plans for the next two fiscal years to give companies an idea of how to compete, according to an announcement posted today.

Contractors, small businesses and academia will gather at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD on April 22 and April 23, for what the Army calls the “Advance Planning Briefing to Industry,” where program executive offices and Army commands will lay out their outlook for the next couple years.

“The APG APBI will identify and showcase potential contracting opportunities that are closely tied to the organization’s roadmap, enabling industry stakeholders to prepare and respond to emerging needs,” the announcement reads.

Day one will include briefings from Communications-Electronics Command, Combat Capabilities Development Command, Army Test and Evaluation Command and the joint program executive office for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense.

Day two will follow with presentations from the intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors PEO and the command, control, communications and network PEO, according to the release.

Aside from the main briefings at Myer Auditorium, the Army is also offering additional in-person and one-on-one sessions for certain programs at the Mallette Training Facility at APG during the two-day event.

DIU launches Blue Manufacturing Marketplace
By Theresa Maher
April 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM

The Pentagon's innovation arm announced today the launch of its anticipated digital marketplace for pre-approved commercial manufacturing companies to partner with commercial defense technology vendors.

The announcement marks one of the first flagship initiatives out of the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue Manufacturing program, the Blue Manufacturing Marketplace, aimed at establishing “a pre-vetted catalog of trusted advanced manufacturing companies capable of scaling defense technology production,” DIU said.

The initial cohort will identify trusted manufacturing partners across six categories for department needs, according to DIU. That includes parts production for large and small-format metal additives, composite or ceramic additives and automated metal machining and forming. It would also include partners enabling automated and advanced post-processing and 3D-printed tooling.

The announcement comes just under a month after Liz Young McNally, DIU’s deputy director of commercial operations, teased its arrival to attendees at the Reagan National Security Innovation Base Summit in early March.

Young McNally described the process of building the marketplace, in which manufacturing companies would submit applications, DIU would vet them and after the manufacturers were in the system, the marketplace would enable a matching function so defense technology vendors could better find them.

“In the short term,” DIU said in the release, “a successful Marketplace will enable technology companies to seamlessly identify and work with trusted manufacturing entities. Longer-term success will enable the DOD and USG to have a stronger U.S. and partner based supply chain for scaling needed technologies.”

The marketplace is meant to be an evolving solution, DIU and Young McNally have pointed out.

“We’re going to iterate as we go,” she said in early March.

The DIU release echoed that sentiment, saying the organization plans to continue building out other areas in advanced manufacturing in the coming year.

Pentagon IG notifies Hegseth of 'Signalgate' investigation
By Tony Bertuca
April 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM

The Pentagon inspector general’s office has sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth notifying him that an investigation has begun into the so-called "Signalgate" controversy at the behest of two senior senators.

The IG says its investigation, initiated at the request of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) will focus on “recent public reporting on the Secretary of Defense's use of an unclassified commercially available messaging application to discuss information pertaining to military actions in Yemen in March 2025.”

Last month, The Atlantic reported that senior members of President Trump’s cabinet, including Hegseth, discussed military plans and operations related to a March 15 airstrike against Houthi militants in Yemen over Signal, a commercial messaging app, and mistakenly included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the magazine, in the group chat while active military missions were discussed and executed.

Atlantic later published additional information that was allegedly introduced to the text chain by Hegseth and included a timeline for the imminent attack and what U.S. weapons were to be used.

The objective of the investigation, according to the IG, is to determine the extent to which Hegseth and other DOD officials complied with policies and procedures “for the use of a commercial messaging application for official business” and whether officials complied with classification and records retention requirements.

Congressional Democrats have been most vocal in their criticism of Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who created the text chain that inadvertently exposed sensitive attack plans to a journalist.

Hegseth maintains that he did not discuss classified information in the text chain.

“No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods,” he wrote on X. “And no classified information.”