Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Monday, the 13th, that the Department of War and the Department of Justice have formed a joint task force to identify and prosecute individuals who have leaked sensitive and classified information.

The formation of this special investigative team follows the Department of Justice's issuance of subpoenas to four New York Times reporters last week, as part of an effort to uncover the source of an article regarding security concerns linked to a private jet gifted to President Trump by Qatar.

Hegseth stated that the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of War will be granted access to all requested information, support, and records related to media leak investigations, and that all departments have been instructed to prioritize these requests.

In a video posted on X, Secretary Hegseth said, "Leaking information threatens lives. These new tools and procedures will go a long way in protecting our joint forces. National security must not be used as a bargaining chip by those seeking fleeting attention. Access to classified information is a sacred responsibility, and those who betray that trust will face the full weight of the law."

He pointed out that leaking classified information is a betrayal that puts service members at risk, emphasizing that protecting such information has been a fundamental principle since the time of George Washington, who also had to contend with insider threats and espionage.

Hegseth stated that all responses to requests for information and tasks made by the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) of the Department of War must be completed within 48 hours.

It is reported that these measures include the involvement of the FBI, under the Department of Justice, in conducting investigative activities within the military.

In a video released last week, the FBI announced that since Director Kash Patel took office, they have arrested 113 foreign spies and neutralized 62 Chinese intelligence operatives.

The formation of this special task force comes after a controversy last year involving Hegseth leaking sensitive information in a Signal chat. The chat, which an editor from The Atlantic accidentally joined, included discussions regarding U.S. airstrike plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen. 

This initiative is one of several recent attempts by Secretary of War Hegseth to restrict media access to the Department of War. Last month, Secretary Hegseth converted the Department of War’s press office into a secure area, barring entry to journalists and reserving it exclusively for speechwriters. Meetings with the Department of War’s press secretary and communications advisors remain available by prior appointment only.

U.S. NNP = Representative Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special NNP Correspondent info@newsandpost.com