Many Pentagon contractors repeatedly violated technology use and information handling requirements, writes Washington. The publication found that in at least five cases, contractors lost their clearances even when they claimed the alleged violation was unintentional or done for convenience and government information was not compromised. One American defense contractor created a way to remotely access an office computer, another forwarded 37 secret but unclassified work emails to personal mail, a third sent three emails with secret information to colleagues via an unauthorized system. As a result, they all lost federal clearances, ending their work at the Pentagon.
«These people were denied clearances or stripped of them for behavior that was far less serious than what happened with the information exchange about strikes on Yemeni Houthis in Signal», — said R. Scott Oswald, managing director of Employment Law Group, who represents workers who lost their clearances.
Meanwhile, more serious violations by Pentagon head Pete Hegseth have so far gone unpunished. According to the publication, new details of «Signalgate» have emerged — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth corresponded about secret military preparations in a Signal chat right in the Pentagon. The publication claims that as early as March, Hegseth ordered a regular internet cable to be laid to his work computer — apparently to install the messenger.
Although the specific circumstances differ, Oswald and other experts familiar with the case summaries at WP's request say they show how ordinary workers lose security clearances for actions that in key aspects resemble Hegseth's use of Signal. This week, Hegseth faced a new wave of criticism, including from a key Republican member of Congress, after the New York Times reported that the defense secretary shared information about airstrikes on Yemen with members of a second Signal group that included his wife and brother. According to former defense department employees, such attack plans are usually considered so classified that access to them requires a code word and a secure line of communication.
«What was being transmitted then and now, whatever you call it, was unofficial, non-secret coordination of media actions and other things. That's what I've been saying from the start», — Hegseth said in his defense, noting that reports of his use of Signal were part of an attempt to undermine President Donald Trump's program.
Hegseth did not deny the existence of two Signal chats but constantly downplayed their significance and said he did not share classified information.
The rules for obtaining clearance are the same for contractors, civil servants, and military personnel. They consist of 13 guiding principles covering a wide range of behaviors, including foreign influence and criminal conduct. Two of them state that a person may lose or be denied clearance for negligent disclosure of protected information, including to the media, or use of unauthorized information technology.
The Department of Defense Inspector General stated this month that his office will thoroughly analyze the initial Signal chat to determine whether Hegseth and others complied with the rules of «using a commercial messaging application for official purposes». He will also check whether officials followed the rules regarding «classification and record-keeping requirements».
Bradley Moss, a Washington attorney specializing in security clearance cases, said he has «almost complete confidence» that if ordinary employees or contractors engaged in activities similar to the Signal chat, they would lose their clearance. Additionally, they would face criminal prosecution.
Hegseth and other senior officials involved in the Signal chat — are just the latest examples, Moss noted. And the fact that they continue to work with classified information makes the situation «even more alarming».
Earlier, National Public Radio (NPR) reported, citing a source, that the White House had begun the process of finding a new defense secretary. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied attempts to replace Hegseth, writing on the X site that President Trump «stands firmly» behind him.
Photo: The Washington Post