Dem Lawmakers Blast Trump Officials Over War Plan Leak/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top Trump administration intelligence officials faced harsh criticism in a Senate hearing following a leaked group chat that exposed sensitive war plans. Lawmakers called the breach “sloppy” and “incompetent,” raising urgent concerns about national security. The officials also addressed threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea during the annual global threats briefing.
War Plan Leak Fallout Quick Looks
- Senate Intelligence Committee holds annual briefing on global threats.
- FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and DNI Tulsi Gabbard testify.
- Lawmakers demand answers after war plans were texted to a group chat with a journalist.
- Sen. Mark Warner slams breach as “mind-boggling” and “incompetent.”
- House Intel Chair Jim Himes also vows to press officials during Wednesday’s hearing.
- White House denies classified data was shared, but NSC is investigating the incident.
- Sen. Tom Cotton accuses intelligence agencies of being overly politicized and bureaucratic.
- Gabbard identifies China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as primary threats to U.S. security.
- Intelligence community urged to refocus on core mission of clandestine information gathering.
- Leaked details involved planned airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Dem Lawmakers Blast Trump Officials Over War Plan Leak
Deep Look
Top national security leaders from the Trump administration came under intense bipartisan scrutiny Tuesday during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing after it was revealed that operational war plans were shared via group chat—including with a journalist. The exposure has raised serious concerns about the safeguarding of sensitive information at the highest levels of U.S. government.
The hearing, intended to be the intelligence community’s annual briefing on global threats, was overshadowed by fallout from a The Atlantic report that several Trump administration officials—including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—shared detailed plans for airstrikes in Yemen using the encrypted messaging app Signal. The group chat included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the committee, denounced the breach as “sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior,” and said it was “mind-boggling” that no one verified the participants before discussing sensitive military operations. “If a lower-level officer had done this, they’d be fired,” Warner added.
According to the report, the group chat discussed specific operational details including targets, weapons systems, and the sequence of strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The airstrikes began just hours after Goldberg received the messages.
Warner’s counterpart, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the committee’s Republican chair, acknowledged the severity of the leak but emphasized the hearing’s primary goal of assessing external threats. However, he warned the intelligence community has become “too politicized and bureaucratic” to effectively respond to today’s challenges.
In her testimony, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outlined the key threats facing the U.S.: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. She noted that China is aggressively investing in advanced military technologies including stealth, hypersonic weapons, and artificial intelligence, while Russia remains a “formidable competitor” with its large nuclear arsenal.
Gabbard said Iran, although not currently pursuing a nuclear weapon, is supplying arms to Russia, and North Korea continues to develop capabilities aimed at threatening both regional U.S. forces and the homeland.
“These actors are in some cases working together to target U.S. interests,” Gabbard said.
CIA Director Ratcliffe and FBI Director Patel echoed those concerns while also facing questions about the Signal leak. The National Security Council has confirmed the chat appears authentic and is currently investigating how Goldberg’s number was added to the thread.
The White House sought to downplay the controversy. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said no classified information was transmitted and that the counsel’s office has issued updated guidance on communication protocols.
“Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump,” she said.
However, Democrats weren’t satisfied. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the leak “horrifying” and promised to press officials for accountability during Wednesday’s House hearing.
Beyond the war plan leak, the hearing delved into broader concerns about the intelligence community’s readiness.
Cotton opened by asking, “Are our intelligence agencies well-postured to face these threats? I’m afraid the answer is no.” He urged the agencies to “recommit to their core mission: collecting clandestine intelligence from adversaries.”
The hearing also marked a noticeable shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Russia. Last week, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed to a temporary halt to strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure—described by the White House as the first step in a “movement to peace.” Critics argue such moves contrast sharply with years of Biden-era sanctions and could embolden adversaries.
As the hearings continue, lawmakers from both parties remain deeply concerned about the implications of senior Trump officials casually sharing military plans through unsecured channels.
“This was not just a slip,” Warner said. “It reflects a pattern that puts our national security at risk.”
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