Trump Intelligence Officials to Face House Scrutiny Over Yemen Strike Leak/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Trump’s top intelligence officials will testify Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee following Senate backlash over a leaked group chat discussing military strikes. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and DNI Tulsi Gabbard defended their use of Signal, denying classified info was shared. Democrats remain alarmed about the security risks posed by the breach.
Intelligence Hearing Quick Looks
- House to hear from Ratcliffe, Gabbard, and FBI Director Kash Patel.
- Follows explosive Senate hearing over Signal text chain leak.
- Officials had discussed Yemen strike in group chat that included a journalist.
- Gabbard, Ratcliffe insist no classified info was disclosed.
- Democrats warn even basic details could endanger U.S. forces.
- Patel may be pressed to investigate the leak internally.
- Trump calls the incident a “glitch,” defends national security team.
- Talks come amid U.S. diplomatic push for Ukraine-Russia ceasefire.
Trump Intelligence Officials to Face House Scrutiny Over Yemen Strike Leak
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — After enduring bipartisan scrutiny in the Senate, President Donald Trump’s top intelligence officials will now face House lawmakers on Wednesday to testify about global security threats and address a growing controversy over the mishandling of sensitive military planning.
Scheduled to appear before the House Intelligence Committee are CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and FBI Director Kash Patel. The hearing is part of the annual U.S. intelligence community’s threat assessment but will likely be dominated by questions about a Signal messaging group where senior officials discussed plans for airstrikes in Yemen—a chat that inadvertently included a journalist.
The controversy erupted after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he had been added to the Signal thread, which reportedly included real-time planning details of U.S. military strikes on Houthi rebels.
At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Gabbard and Ratcliffe both insisted that no classified material was shared in the exchange. They characterized the incident as a communications mishap that involved no breach of national security.
“My communications in the Signal message group were lawful and did not include classified information,” Ratcliffe testified.
Still, Democrats on both intelligence committees are unconvinced. They argue that even non-classified operational details—such as targeting timelines, weapon types, or troop movement—could expose U.S. servicemembers to danger if intercepted or leaked.
“This is an embarrassment,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA). “There’s been no apology. There’s been no recognition of the gravity of this error.”
FBI Investigation Demanded
FBI Director Kash Patel, who was not a participant in the Signal thread, may face mounting pressure to launch a formal investigation into the leak. Senate Democrats pressed him on Tuesday to confirm whether his agency was reviewing the breach. He offered no commitment, saying only that he had been briefed on the issue.
“We need an answer from Director Patel, not just a shrug,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
Trump’s Response: ‘Just a Glitch’
In a Tuesday interview with NBC News, President Trump dismissed the controversy, calling it a “glitch” and reiterating support for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who allegedly added Goldberg to the chat by mistake.
“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said. “There was nothing important in there.”
Waltz has not resigned and is continuing his duties, including ongoing discussions with Russian officials over a Black Sea ceasefire framework, according to White House sources.
Broader Context: Global Threats and Policy Shifts
While the hearing’s headlines will be driven by the Signal leak, Gabbard and Ratcliffe are also expected to reaffirm the administration’s threat assessment, which prioritizes combating transnational criminal networks, fentanyl trafficking, and illegal immigration—all core concerns of Trump’s domestic and foreign policy.
In her Senate testimony, Gabbard warned that the U.S. faces growing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, while Patel emphasized an expanded FBI focus on drug cartels and human trafficking rings.
Meanwhile, the hearings occur as President Trump pursues a partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, including agreements to protect energy infrastructure and ensure safe Black Sea shipping—part of a broader U.S. effort to reduce global tensions while focusing inward.
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