Top Trump intelligence officials confess they don't know DOD policy about classified intel

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) questioned top intelligence officials from President Donald Trump's administration in a Tuesday hearing about their discussions in a Signal chat that may have revealed classified information.

A bombshell report in The Atlantic revealed that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared classified war plans in a Signal chat that included a reporter among its membership.

The story reveals a Signal chat among top officials in President Donald Trump's Cabinet who discussed classified military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

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When discussing the matter in the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Kelly questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe about whether the Signal discussion made mention of any targets in Yemen. He questioned whether they discussed any weapons or weapons systems.

After probing the specifics in the Signal chat, Kelly asked whether they were aware of a key Defense Department policy that deals explicitly with Signal.

"So, I understand that DOD policy prohibits discussion of even what is called Controlled Unclassified Information or CUI on unsecured devices," said Kelly. "Are both of you aware of that DOD policy?"

"I haven't read that policy," said Gabbard.

"Not familiar with the DOD policy, but I would say that the Secretary of Defense is the original classification authority for the DOD and decides what would be classified information," said Ratcliffe.

Kelly then asked whether the intelligence committee has a similar policy that prohibits the discussion of CUI.

"Yes," she answered.

"Okay, Controlled Unclassified Information, according to DOD, includes information that is — information that has not been approved for public release. Would you — of what's been disclosed publicly of the Signal chain, would either of you feel that that would be approved for public release, Miss Gabbard?"

She restated that it was a discussion among national security leaders, ignoring the question. Kelly asked her again, "yes or no," but she said, "I don't feel I can answer that question here."

See the exchange below or at the link here.

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