A controversial figure in President Donald Trump's administration faces new scrutiny over communication security protocols.
According to The Guardian, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and other National Security Council members have reportedly utilized personal Gmail accounts to conduct official government business, raising significant security concerns.
The revelation comes shortly after Waltz's previous security lapse involving the addition of a journalist to a Signal group chat where high-ranking officials discussed sensitive military operations. The Washington Post's investigation, based on document reviews and interviews with three unnamed officials, exposed the extent of potentially compromising communication practices within the national security team.
Waltz allegedly received work-related documents and schedule information through his personal Gmail account. This practice contradicts standard security protocols for handling sensitive government communications.
A National Security Council aide working under Waltz reportedly engaged in even more concerning behavior. The aide discussed military positions and weapons systems with other government agency officials through Gmail, while their counterparts used secure government-issued accounts.
The National Security Council has defended Waltz's actions. A spokesperson emphasized that Waltz maintained proper security measures regarding classified information, stating he would never compromise sensitive data through unsecured channels.
The Gmail revelation intensifies scrutiny following last month's Signal app incident. Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, to a group chat discussing Yemen airstrikes.
The group chat included prominent figures such as Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz's explanation that Goldberg's number was "sucked in" to his phone received widespread criticism from media figures and security experts.
President Trump has maintained support for his national security adviser, dismissing the Signal incident as a "glitch." This stance contrasts sharply with Democratic leadership's calls for accountability.
Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed strong criticism of the current national security team's competence. He stated:
Mike Waltz is totally and completely unqualified to be in a sensitive national security position, as is the case with the Trump national security team.
The opposition has intensified pressure for leadership changes. Democrats insist both Waltz and Hegseth should either resign or face termination, highlighting the growing partisan divide over national security practices.
Critics have noted the irony in Waltz's current position, given his previous criticism of Hillary Clinton's private email server usage during her tenure as Secretary of State. This contrast has fueled further debate about communication security standards in government operations.
National Security Adviser Michael Waltz faces increasing pressure over his use of unsecured communication channels for government business, including personal Gmail accounts and the Signal messaging app. The controversy emerged after The Washington Post revealed documents showing potentially sensitive information being transmitted through these platforms, compounded by an earlier incident where Waltz accidentally added a journalist to a military planning chat group. While the Trump administration maintains support for Waltz, Democratic leaders continue pushing for leadership changes in the national security team, citing concerns about competence and security protocol adherence.
