A DHS staffer faces serious punishment for accidentally adding a reporter to a group email about ICE op in Denver, which went off without a hitch

essentialsaltes · Mar 29, 2025

A federal worker accidentally includes a journalist on a detailed message in advance of a government operation.

It’s what happened to a longtime Department of Homeland Security employee who told colleagues she inadvertently sent unclassified details of an upcoming Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation to a journalist in late January, according to former ICE chief of staff Jason Houser, one former DHS official and one current DHS official. (The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they do not want to endanger their current or future career opportunities.)

But unlike Waltz and Hegseth, who both remain in their jobs, the career DHS employee was put on administrative leave and told late last week that the agency intends to revoke her security clearance, the officials said.

She was asked to take a polygraph test and surrender her personal cellphone, which she declined. She was then notified that the agency intends to revoke her security clearance, the officials said, which could keep her from working in the homeland security space again.

The ICE operation took place without incident, the officials said.

No harm, no foul! That's the Trump standard, isn't it?

Fantine · Mar 29, 2025

Obviously an atmosphere of mistrust is being created, making employees fearful of talking to one another for fear of accidental mistakes being reported.

Laodicean60 · Mar 29, 2025

I sense a double-speak by NBC.

A federal worker accidentally includes a journalist on a detailed message in advance of a government operation.

While that sounds like the case of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief being added to a group Signal chat by Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz, in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed military attack plans in Yemen, it’s not.

Then, compared it to an employee who accidentally exposed unclassified ICE mission. Even if it was unclassified, it's still illegal.

"But unlike Waltz and Hegseth, who both remain in their jobs, the career DHS employee was put on administrative leave and told late last week that the agency intends to revoke her security clearance, the officials said."

They shouldn't be held accountable unless they knowingly knew the journalist was in the chat.

Fantine · Mar 29, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
I sense a double-speak by NBC.

A federal worker accidentally includes a journalist on a detailed message in advance of a government operation.

While that sounds like the case of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief being added to a group Signal chat by Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz, in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed military attack plans in Yemen, it’s not.

Then, compared it to an employee who accidentally exposed unclassified ICE mission. Even if it was unclassified, it's still illegal.

"But unlike Waltz and Hegseth, who both remain in their jobs, the career DHS employee was put on administrative leave and told late last week that the agency intends to revoke her security clearance, the officials said."

They shouldn't be held accountable unless they knowingly knew the journalist was in the chat.

The more serious and top secret the material being discussed, the more precautions need to be taken.
There are more secure messaging systems that must be used, and Signal isn't one.
Whether Waltz or Hegseth knew of the reporter's presence, they knowingly used an insecure messaging system. They should be fired.

Laodicean60 · Mar 29, 2025

Fantine said:
The more serious and top secret the material being discussed, the more precautions need to be taken.

Yes! Signal chat has been used since 2014, and this is the first.

Fantine said:
, they knowingly used an insecure messaging system.

It is a secure application, but when a human inputs someone not authorized to be there is wrong.

DaisyDay · Mar 29, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
Yes! Signal chat has been used since 2014, and this is the first.

It is a secure application, but when a human inputs someone not authorized to be there is wrong.

https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/Memo-UseOfUnclassMobileApps.pdf

MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP

COMMANDERS OF THE COMBATANT COMMANDS

DEFENSE AGENCY AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: Use of Unclassified Mobile Applications in Department of Defense

...In accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.48, DoD personnel will not use non-DoD

accounts or personal e-mail accounts, messaging systems or other non-public DoD information

systems, except approved or authorized government contractor systems, to conduct official

business involving CUI. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.01, DoD personnel will not

use unclassified systems, government-issued or otherwise, for classified national security

information. DoD CIO will continuously consult with all DoD Components to evaluate risks

mobile applications may present to the DoD and update References (m), (n), and (o), as

appropriate.

Attachment 2; Pg 6; Item 4:

10) Unmanaged 'messaging apps,' including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the

primary function, are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD

information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media

apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal). An Exception to Policy (E2P) request must be

submitted by the appropriate Component for use of an unmanaged messaging app that is

critical to fulfilling mission operations at https://rmfks.osd.mil/dode2p.

This was from Oct. 6, 2023. Emphasis added.

Fantine · Mar 29, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
Yes! Signal chat has been used since 2014, and this is the first.

TBT there was a God moment when a journalist with integrity learned of the dangerously careless messages, was patriotic enough not to endanger the mission by revealing it immediately and courageous enough to publish it after the malefactors lied to cover themselves.
Would Signal stand up to Chinese or Russian hacking? If the intended victims learned of it before hand, what might have happened to our pilots (or for those who prioritize money, the 18 very expensive missiles?)
They are at fault because the nature of what is discussed required top secret communications programs.

Laodicean60 · Mar 29, 2025

DaisyDay said:
https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/Memo-UseOfUnclassMobileApps.pdf

MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP
COMMANDERS OF THE COMBATANT COMMANDS
DEFENSE AGENCY AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: Use of Unclassified Mobile Applications in Department of Defense

...In accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.48, DoD personnel will not use non-DoD
accounts or personal e-mail accounts, messaging systems or other non-public DoD information
systems, except approved or authorized government contractor systems, to conduct official
business involving CUI. In accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.01, DoD personnel will not
use unclassified systems, government-issued or otherwise, for classified national security
information. DoD CIO will continuously consult with all DoD Components to evaluate risks
mobile applications may present to the DoD and update References (m), (n), and (o), as
appropriate.

Attachment 2; Pg 6; Item 4:
10) Unmanaged 'messaging apps,' including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the
primary function, are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD
information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media
apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal). An Exception to Policy (E2P) request must be
submitted by the appropriate Component for use of an unmanaged messaging app that is
critical to fulfilling mission operations at https://rmfks.osd.mil/dode2p.

This was from Oct. 6, 2023. Emphasis added.

Thanks for the info.

Laodicean60 · Mar 29, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
Thanks for the info.

Then I guess I have to fall back on my original comment on another thread: he should be punished.

MotoToTheMax · Mar 29, 2025

Surely we'll hear that only a warning should have been issued. I saw the idea expressed here:

Always in His Presence said:
It was a bone head mistake and the man who started it should be warned - it's careless at best but with

No names

no targets

no locations

no units

no routes

no sources

no methods

It is hardly a serious breach. It's a moment by moment report of a very successful strike on terrorist.

Anything more seems like unnecessary political cheap shots that amount to nothing.

ozso · Mar 29, 2025

Severely punished for accidental mistake. Sounds kinda draconian.

DaisyDay · Mar 30, 2025

ozso said:
Severely punished for accidental mistake. Sounds kinda draconian.

Or for gross negligence and violating security procedures. No one is being made to walk the plank.

The Barbarian · Saturday at 10:18 AM

So Pete Hegseth is going to be severely punished for doing the same thing, while also endangering the lives of American troops?

Or do adulterers with drinking problems get a pass?

GoldenBoy89 · Saturday at 1:34 PM

The Barbarian said:
So Pete Hegseth is going to be severely punished for doing the same thing, while also endangering the lives of American troops?

Or do adulterers with drinking problems get a pass?

You get a pass if you are sufficiently hateful enough for this administration. Loyalty to Trump and contempt for anyone opposed are the two primary requirements.

A DHS staffer faces serious punishment for accidentally adding a reporter to a group email about ICE op in Denver, which went off without a hitch

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