Mike Waltz Faces Tough Questioning Over Signal Leak During UN Ambassador Hearing

During his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Mike Waltz, President Biden’s choice for the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, was the subject of intense scrutiny due to the alleged “Signal leak” controversy.

Waltz’s participation in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app used by Trump administration officials to discuss classified military plans, is at the heart of the controversy. Waltz unintentionally invited Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, which led to media leaks of private discussions. Senators questioned Waltz’s judgment in managing private communications on a commercial app that was not permitted for classified use and pressed him on whether classified information was improperly shared.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) challenged Waltz on the security risks, emphasizing that Signal is not an approved tool for classified discussions and urging Waltz to acknowledge the gravity of using such a platform. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sharply criticized Waltz’s handling of the aftermath, accusing him of evading responsibility and mistreating Goldberg. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) noted ongoing Pentagon investigations related to the matter.

In response, Waltz defended his actions, insisting no classified information was disclosed and that Signal’s end-to-end encryption — recommended by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — provided a secure means of communication. He also rejected claims that he was fired over the incident and confirmed he was compensated as a national security adviser until his nomination.

While the Signal leak dominated much of the questioning, Waltz also outlined his vision for the United Nations, pledging to reform the institution and strengthen U.S. leadership on the global stage.

The committee has yet to vote on Waltz’s nomination. The Signal leak raises fresh concerns about cybersecurity protocols within U.S. national security circles as the Senate weighs Waltz’s suitability for the ambassador role.