Hackers breached a secure messaging app connected to Trump’s top advisors, potentially exposing communications of over 60 government officials including Secret Service agents and FEMA personnel.
Key Takeaways
- Telemessage, a secure messaging app used by Mike Waltz and numerous government agencies, has suspended all services following a significant security breach
- Over 60 U.S. government officials had their communications potentially compromised, including personnel from Secret Service, FEMA, and diplomatic staff
- The breach is being investigated by Smarsh (Telemessage’s parent company) with support from external cybersecurity experts
- While no obviously sensitive information has been detected, metadata could still pose counterintelligence risks according to security experts
- Multiple agencies including Customs and Border Protection have paused their use of the service while CISA recommends discontinuing use entirely
Critical Security Breach Affects Government Communications
A major cybersecurity breach has compromised Telemessage, a secure messaging platform used by high-ranking government officials including those connected to President Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The incident has forced the complete suspension of Telemessage services as investigators determine the full scope of the intrusion. According to information provided to Reuters, the breach potentially exposed communications from more than 60 government users across multiple agencies, creating serious national security concerns at a time when cyber threats against the United States continue to escalate.
“Out of an abundance of caution, all Telemessage services have been temporarily suspended,” Stated Mike Waltz
The messaging platform gained significant attention after photos emerged showing Mike Waltz using it during a cabinet meeting. Telemessage offers encryption capabilities similar to Signal but with the added feature of message archiving to comply with government record-keeping requirements. This combination made it attractive to officials who needed both security and compliance with federal regulations but now raises questions about whether this dual functionality created security vulnerabilities that hackers successfully exploited.
Government Agencies Scramble to Assess Damage
The fallout from the breach has prompted immediate action across multiple government departments. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already disabled Telemessage access for its personnel. The Secret Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are conducting urgent reviews of the situation, though FEMA has stated there is currently no evidence that its critical information was compromised. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has taken the most aggressive stance, recommending complete discontinuation of the service unless specific mitigating instructions are provided.
“Following the detection of a cyber incident, CBP immediately disabled Telemessage as a precautionary measure. The investigation into the scope of the breach is ongoing,” According to the Department of Homeland Security.
The hacker responsible for the breach demonstrated access to Telemessage’s server by providing evidence that included employee contact lists from Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange that uses the service. While Coinbase acknowledged the breach, they maintained that no customer data was exposed. This revelation suggests the hacker may have accessed a significant amount of data beyond just government communications, potentially affecting private sector organizations that rely on Telemessage for secure communications storage.
Intelligence Concerns Mount Despite No Classified Leaks
While initial reviews of the leaked data haven’t revealed obviously classified or sensitive information, security experts warn that the metadata alone presents significant counterintelligence risks. The leaked communications included messages from U.S. diplomatic staffers, disaster responders, a White House staffer, and Secret Service members. Some messages contained information about travel plans for senior officials, which could be exploited for intelligence purposes even without access to classified material. The nature of the compromised data raises questions about whether foreign intelligence services could use this information to piece together patterns and operations of U.S. government personnel.
“Is investigating a potential security incident. Upon detection, we acted quickly to contain it and engaged an external cybersecurity firm to support our investigation” Stated Mike Waltzh.
The timing of this breach is particularly concerning given the growing sophistication of cyber threats against U.S. government systems. President Trump has recently proposed shifting some cybersecurity resources to states as attacks continue to rise, but this incident demonstrates that federal systems remain highly vulnerable. Neither Waltz nor White House representatives have provided statements regarding the breach, despite the apparent connection to high-level administration communications. The continued silence raises questions about how the administration will address this significant security failure.
History of Communication Security Issues
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the communication security practices of Mike Waltz. Prior to this incident, Waltz faced scrutiny during what became known as “Signal gate,” where questions emerged about his use of the Signal messaging app for government communications. That controversy eventually led to his nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, but this latest security breach may reignite concerns about proper protocols for handling sensitive government communications in the Trump administration Stated President Trump.
Federal contracts show Telemessage has been used by numerous government entities including the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), though the CDC ultimately found the platform unsuitable for their needs. The widespread adoption across government indicates the breach could have implications far beyond just Waltz’s immediate circle. As the investigation continues, Americans deserve transparency about exactly what information was compromised and what steps are being taken to prevent similar breaches in the future.
