Condemning the Trump administration for the use of an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform "Signal".

Bill: 119-hres-265
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
Introduced: 2025-03-27
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 265 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 27, 2025 Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself, Ms. Tokuda , Ms. Norton , Mr. Peters , and Mr. Johnson of Georgia ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs , Armed Services , and Intelligence (Permanent Select) , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Condemning the Trump administration for the use of an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal .

Whereas Vice President J.D. Vance used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Secretary of State Marco Rubio used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas Presidential Advisor Stephen Miller used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Mike Walz used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the National Security Council official Brian McCormack used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas the National Security Council official Steve Witkoff used an unauthorized method of communicating highly sensitive or potentially classified information regarding a United States military operation via the messaging platform Signal ; Whereas members of the administration may not have properly documented highly sensitive and potentially classified information in accordance with chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Records Act), enacted in 1950; Whereas foreign adversaries have previously accessed and consistently attempt to access highly sensitive and classified information relevant to United States National Security, such as China’s successful 2024 attempt to infiltrate the United States Treasury and Russia’s targeting of United States military plans and sensitive data, notably through operations like Moonlight Maze and espionage activities such as the Arc Electronics case, which include cyberattacks and illegal technology exports; Whereas top members of the administration used a publicly available commercial platform to form a small group , communicate highly sensitive or potentially classified information, and discuss openly their intentions, at risk of access by foreign adversaries; Whereas the administration has in prior instances violated Federal law and basic guidance on handling of classified information, such as the President’s improper storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago ; and Whereas members of the administration discussed highly classified information regarding a United States military operation outside of a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, also known as a SCIF: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns the administration for risking our national security by potentially exposing highly sensitive or potentially classified information to United States foreign adversaries like China and Russia, who have in the past have successfully accessed highly sensitive and confidential information pertaining to United States national interests; (2) condemns the administration for putting American servicemembers’ lives at risk by discussing military operations in an unsecured, unclassified setting and sharing this information with at least one nongovernmental party; (3) calls on the administration to review its procedures and systems for the communication of classified information; (4) calls on the administration to investigate all communication methods being used by members of the administration and ensure they are aligned with proper procedure as it pertains to the communication of classified or highly sensitive information; (5) calls on the administration to initiate an investigation to uncover if any members of the administration violated any Federal laws regarding the communication of classified information; (6) calls on the administration to hold any and all members of the administration accountable to the full extent of the law if any Federal laws were violated by members of the administration pertaining to the communication of classified information; (7) calls on the administration to investigate on how many instances the National Security Council or any other relevant executive branch officials has used the Signal messaging service or any other messaging service application that has not been approved for the transmission of highly sensitive or classified information; (8) calls on the administration to ensure all members of the administration are communicating highly sensitive or classified information inside a SCIF to ensure members of the administration do not endanger United States National Security by communicating classified information through improper channels; and (9) calls on the administration to inform all members of the administration that the communication of classified information outside of a SCIF, is strictly prohibited and that any members of the administration found to violate this procedure will be removed from office and subsequently be punished in accordance with any and all applicable laws pertaining to the communication of classified information.