Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had his assistant install a “unique” system in his secure office at the Pentagon that allowed him to access and control his personal cellphone from inside, a new watchdog report says.
The findings are part of Pentagon Inspector General Steven Stebbins’ investigation into Hegseth’s use of the Signal app to share sensitive information about US airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this year. The investigation concluded the secretary risked the safety of US military personnel.
The report, released Thursday, included a section stating that Hegseth’s junior military assistant, at the request of the secretary of defense, “requested and oversaw the installation of a unique capability through which the secretary could access and control his personal cell phone from inside his secure office.”
The tether system, for which photos of a prototype design were redacted in the report, was installed in late February 2025.
The system mirrored and accessed the content of the personal phone and connected a keyboard, mouse, and monitor via cable to the phone, which was located outside the office.
Within the Pentagon, especially for the officers of more senior officials, it’s not uncommon to find lockers or boxes for staff and visitors to store phones and other devices.
Department of Defense policy states that personal and government mobile devices, such as cellphones, are prohibited from secure spaces in the Pentagon, places like Hegseth’s office. The inspector general’s report concluded it could not be determined whether the unique system installed for the secretary met requirements because it was quietly removed by late April 2025.
A one-of-a-kind security breach. I can only laugh at how inept they are at this point.
barweis on
Pete Hogsex is the typical debilitated alcoholic intellect. Confabulation, pathological lying, erratic thought patterns, etc. I bet an MRI of the brain would show significant functional damage.
The a–hole is a simpering toady to the demented megalomaniac at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
french_toasty on
What is the big problem with having respect for the security of American and its people? So audacious, firmly stupid and dangerous. So if it was a mirror of his phone does that prevent any sort of surveillance being used against him? It must be a feeding frenzy out there to permanently compromise the american gov
Mr_Magoo1969 on
This seems incredibly insecure. This drunken clown is going to get people killed.
Soggy_Panda2393 on
This is actually fucking insane and the only thing crazier is no one in the current administration seems to have an issue with any of it
teddytwelvetoes on
did he ever get that $40,000 makeup studio that he so desperately wanted?
AdventurousLet548 on
I guess those lock boxes for personal cell phones are just for decoration?
hbprof on
“But her emails!!!”
Just in case: /s
Fallouttgrrl on
Was it next to his newly installed makeup installation?
XxNimblyBimblyXx on
But Hilary used her personal computer or email for work!
MissionCreeper on
Was it a post it note stuck to his phone that had “classified” written on it?
BlurryRogue on
You mean he installed a massive security breach? That sounds an awful lot like a massive security breach.
SirMildredPierce on
The loose OPSEC is the point.
LucidOndine on
Well of course he does. How else is he going to get his orders from Putin?
YaBoySY on
This would get the regulars in the military in loads of trouble.
hamster_13 on
Brought to you by starlink
2pnt0 on
But her emails…
luri7555 on
Like a spy would? Huh.
TronCat1277 on
Let us know when these fucks face actual consequences
CaptainOktoberfest on
What are the odds this was connected to Russia as well.
FortWayneFam on
Sounds like he was taught all of these things. Its not like this dude knows about IT security like that
Goodwill_LIFT on
These people are only insulated from accountability because WE ALLOW IT. Vote in every damned election. Reach out to your elected representatives and demand that they fulfill their obligation for oversight into illegal activity. This should not be controversial, FFS. WTF, America?
Eddiebaby7 on
All these ass hats who were insisting that Hillary Clinton using her private email should be a death sentence case have no issue with stealing a pallet of classified info, hiding chats in Signal and using unsecured phones.
OrionDax on
Hey, Republicans, this is type of thing you accused Hillary of doing, remember? Are you going to hold hearings and demand accountability now as well?
29 Comments
***From Business Insider’s Chris Panella:***
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had his assistant install a “unique” system in his secure office at the Pentagon that allowed him to access and control his personal cellphone from inside, a new watchdog report says.
The findings are part of Pentagon Inspector General Steven Stebbins’ investigation into Hegseth’s use of the Signal app to share sensitive information about US airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this year. The investigation concluded the secretary risked the safety of US military personnel.
The report, released Thursday, included a section stating that Hegseth’s junior military assistant, at the request of the secretary of defense, “requested and oversaw the installation of a unique capability through which the secretary could access and control his personal cell phone from inside his secure office.”
The tether system, for which photos of a prototype design were redacted in the report, was installed in late February 2025.
The system mirrored and accessed the content of the personal phone and connected a keyboard, mouse, and monitor via cable to the phone, which was located outside the office.
Within the Pentagon, especially for the officers of more senior officials, it’s not uncommon to find lockers or boxes for staff and visitors to store phones and other devices.
Department of Defense policy states that personal and government mobile devices, such as cellphones, are prohibited from secure spaces in the Pentagon, places like Hegseth’s office. The inspector general’s report concluded it could not be determined whether the unique system installed for the secretary met requirements because it was quietly removed by late April 2025.
[Read more about the report’s findings here.](https://www.businessinsider.com/hegseth-had-system-installed-for-personal-cell-in-pentagon-office-2025-12?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=insider-politics-sub-comment)
isn’t this all kinds of illegal?
The party of “but her emails” is sure quiet.
A one-of-a-kind security breach. I can only laugh at how inept they are at this point.
Pete Hogsex is the typical debilitated alcoholic intellect. Confabulation, pathological lying, erratic thought patterns, etc. I bet an MRI of the brain would show significant functional damage.
The a–hole is a simpering toady to the demented megalomaniac at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
What is the big problem with having respect for the security of American and its people? So audacious, firmly stupid and dangerous. So if it was a mirror of his phone does that prevent any sort of surveillance being used against him? It must be a feeding frenzy out there to permanently compromise the american gov
This seems incredibly insecure. This drunken clown is going to get people killed.
This is actually fucking insane and the only thing crazier is no one in the current administration seems to have an issue with any of it
did he ever get that $40,000 makeup studio that he so desperately wanted?
I guess those lock boxes for personal cell phones are just for decoration?
“But her emails!!!”
Just in case: /s
Was it next to his newly installed makeup installation?
But Hilary used her personal computer or email for work!
Was it a post it note stuck to his phone that had “classified” written on it?
You mean he installed a massive security breach? That sounds an awful lot like a massive security breach.
The loose OPSEC is the point.
Well of course he does. How else is he going to get his orders from Putin?
This would get the regulars in the military in loads of trouble.
Brought to you by starlink
But her emails…
Like a spy would? Huh.
Let us know when these fucks face actual consequences
What are the odds this was connected to Russia as well.
Sounds like he was taught all of these things. Its not like this dude knows about IT security like that
These people are only insulated from accountability because WE ALLOW IT. Vote in every damned election. Reach out to your elected representatives and demand that they fulfill their obligation for oversight into illegal activity. This should not be controversial, FFS. WTF, America?
All these ass hats who were insisting that Hillary Clinton using her private email should be a death sentence case have no issue with stealing a pallet of classified info, hiding chats in Signal and using unsecured phones.
Hey, Republicans, this is type of thing you accused Hillary of doing, remember? Are you going to hold hearings and demand accountability now as well?
But her fucking emails.
But her emails!