Pentagon Report: Unsecured Messaging by Defense Secretary Created Security Risks

A new Pentagon watchdog report states that Defense Secretary Hegseth’s use of unsecured messaging created "additional risks" to U.S. forces and missions. The report concludes that these actions "created a risk to operational security." Operational security refers to the process of protecting information that could be useful to an enemy. This security lapse, the report warns, could have led to failed mission objectives. It also could have caused potential harm to U.S. military pilots. The findings are part of an official review by the Department of Defense's internal investigator. The report did not specify whether any classified information was actually compromised.