Story perspectives

Rubio, Defense Chiefs Used Self-Destructing Signal; Congress Demands Briefing

7/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Secretary of State Marco Rubio used Signal’s disappearing-message feature for Yemen war chats, contradicting the State Department’s claim of archiving.
Democracy Forward’s FOIA suit uncovered thirteen unknown Signal conversations, including an eight-hour auto-delete thread with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.
After a settlement with American Oversight, the State Department revised its statement, prompting Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and lawmakers to request a briefing on Signal’s security.

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Story summary

Secretary of State Marco Rubio used Signal’s disappearing-message feature for Yemen war chats, contradicting the State Department’s claim of archiving.
Democracy Forward’s FOIA suit uncovered thirteen unknown Signal conversations, including an eight-hour auto-delete thread with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.
After a settlement with American Oversight, the State Department revised its statement, prompting Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and lawmakers to request a briefing on Signal’s security.