- United States
- N.Y.
- Letter
I share your deep concern over the apparent mishandling of highly sensitive national security information related to military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The revelation that top Trump administration officials used an unclassified messaging app to discuss operational details and shared that chat with a journalist, even inadvertently, represents a flagrant violation of protocols designed to safeguard national defense secrets. This breach potentially jeopardized American personnel and operations, undermined intelligence sources and methods, and damaged trust with international partners. It cannot be excused as mere carelessness - it demonstrates a disqualifying lack of judgment and competence in handling classified material at the highest levels of government. As members of Congress, you have a constitutional duty to conduct vigorous oversight over the executive branch's actions impacting national security. I urge you to expeditiously convene public hearings to compel testimony under oath from all officials involved, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Based on the disturbing facts that emerge, you should seriously consider pursuing their removal from office through whatever means are appropriate and lawful. This incident also raises concerns about potential violations of laws governing the handling of federal records and classified information. Existing statutes may need to be strengthened to specifically prohibit the use of personal devices and non-government communications platforms for sensitive national security matters. Ultimately, the Trump Administration must be held fully accountable for this dangerous breakdown in security protocols that appears to have arisen from incompetence at best, and potentially worse motivations. Aggressive congressional action is warranted to get to the truth and enact reforms preventing any reoccurrence.