NORFOLK, Va. — During her husband’s deployment last year on an aircraft carrier, Alyssa Myatt and other Navy spouses adhered to rigid security procedures, necessitating trips to the ship’s home port just to receive updates that its deployment had been extended.
Communication through texts, calls, and emails about the deployment faced restrictions. The Navy closely monitored a Facebook group that connected sailors with their families, often deleting posts that contained sensitive information, including images that might disclose the ship’s location, Myatt explained.
The disclosure of a recent group chat among Trump administration officials discussing a military attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen was difficult for some military families to swallow. These families are expected to maintain strict confidentiality about the deployment details of loved ones. This incident has also sparked frustration among veterans, who question the security priorities within the White House.
“The phrase ‘Loose lips sink ships’ is not just a saying,” Myatt emphasized, referencing the well-known cautionary slogan from World War II. Her husband served on the USS Eisenhower in 2024, amid Navy operations intercepting missiles launched by Houthis over the Red Sea.
Despite former President Donald Trump brushing off the security lapse as a mere “glitch,” Myatt was alarmed by the breach, which defied the strict protocols she and other military families diligently follow. This lapse put U.S. sailors at potential risk.
“When those in charge of our military dismiss such occurrences, it sets a dangerous precedent, potentially compromising the safety of our service members,” Myatt stated.
The security breach took place on March 15, when top national security figures texted military strike plans targeting Yemen to a Signal app group chat, notable for its encryption but also vulnerable to hacking. This group involved The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief, who later reported on the incident.
Though the White House insisted no classified details were exposed in the chat, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz accepted complete accountability for the mishap.
Nonetheless, Vietnam War veteran Edwin J. Thomas believes Trump’s Cabinet should have better judgment.
Thomas, 78, visiting the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, N.C., stated military strategies should remain confidential and not be discussed openly. He does not advocate for job terminations unless repeated poor judgment is shown.
“It’s a blunder,” Thomas commented, who cast his vote for Trump. “If they learn and rectify this mistake, that’s okay. Continued reliance on such apps would be an abuse of power.”
Air Force Reserve veteran David Cameron Wright expressed anger over the incident.
“It’s as though they disregard our security,” said the former airman at North Carolina Veterans Park, Fayetteville.
“I demand more from those wielding such authority,” he added.
Yet, he also believes the incident should serve as a learning opportunity for those involved.
“Everyone makes mistakes—be they presidents, civilians, or military personnel.”
Upholding Deployment Security
The latest U.S. offensive against the Houthis involved air strikes launched from the USS Harry S. Truman, echoing the mission Myatt’s husband participated in the previous year.
The USS Eisenhower was vital in safeguarding merchant and allied ships from attacks in the strategically crucial Red Sea route leading to the Suez Canal, engaging in the most intense ongoing sea combat since World War II with about 7,000 American sailors.
Based at the largest Navy base in Norfolk, the Eisenhower saw its mission extended twice. Wi-Fi onboard allowed sailors to keep in touch with families through texts, WhatsApp, and phone calls. However, there were periods of total communication blackout.
“We knew something was up when calls and emails stopped,” Myatt observed. “The ship would cease all communications for its protection.”
Myatt questioned why the latest strike plans were not shared in secure environments like the White House Situation Room.
“If an outsider wanted to monetize that slipped information?” Myatt speculated regarding the chat’s unintentional public exposure.
“This isn’t about political sides,” Myatt stressed. “This pertains to all Americans, regardless of political affiliations, reflecting our collective vulnerability.”