National Security Advisor Michael Waltz’s use of personal Gmail accounts for government communications has triggered security concerns as the NSC defends its practices amid Washington Post allegations.
Key Takeaways
- National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and his staff used personal Gmail accounts for government communications, though the NSC claims they ensured compliance by cc’ing official accounts.
- The Washington Post reported that sensitive military discussions and weapons systems information may have been shared through unsecured Gmail accounts.
- This controversy follows a recent incident where a staff member accidentally added a journalist to a sensitive Signal chat about military operations.
- President Trump has defended Waltz, blaming technology flaws rather than intentional misconduct.
- The NSC maintains that no classified information was transmitted through personal accounts and criticized the Washington Post report as a distraction.
NSC Confirms Gmail Usage While Defending Security Protocols
The National Security Council has acknowledged that National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and members of his staff used personal Gmail accounts for government-related communications. NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed that Waltz received work emails and calendar invites on his personal account but maintained that proper protocols were followed to ensure record compliance. This admission comes in response to allegations published by the Washington Post claiming that sensitive military information was being exchanged through unsecured channels.
According to the NSC’s statement, while Waltz did use his personal email for scheduling and certain work documents, he consistently copied government accounts on correspondence to maintain proper records. The Washington Post report specifically alleged that a senior aide used Gmail for sensitive discussions involving military positions and weapons systems, while other government officials on the same email chains used their official government accounts, as evidenced by email headers.
White House Defense and Compliance Claims
The NSC has vigorously defended its communication practices in the face of mounting scrutiny. Hughes pushed back against the Washington Post report, claiming that the publication did not share documents to verify their claims about the sensitive nature of communications conducted over personal email. The spokesperson emphasized that all NSC staff are instructed to use only secure channels for classified information and to retain all non-government correspondence to comply with federal record-keeping requirements.
“Let me reiterate, NSA Waltz received emails and calendar invites from legacy contacts on his personal email and cc’d government accounts for anything since January 20th to ensure compliance with records retention, and he has never sent classified material over his personal email account or any unsecured platform.” NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes
Hughes further characterized the Washington Post’s reporting as an attempt “to distract the American people from President Trump’s successful national security agenda that’s protecting our nation.” The NSC maintains that despite the use of personal email accounts, no breaches of classified information occurred, and all communications adhered to proper security protocols.
Recent Signal Chat Incident Compounds Security Concerns
This Gmail controversy follows a separate incident where Waltz accepted responsibility for accidentally including a journalist from The Atlantic in a Signal messaging chat about military strikes. The mishap was described as “embarrassing” and has raised additional questions about information security practices within the administration. When asked about the incident, President Trump stood by his National Security Advisor, asserting that no classified information was discussed in the chat that was accidentally shared.
“I don’t think he should apologize, I think he’s doing his best. It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect.” President Donald Trump
While Trump initially suggested a “lower-level” staff member was responsible for the Signal chat error, Waltz later contradicted this account, denying that any staffer was at fault. The incident, combined with the Gmail usage revelations, has intensified scrutiny on the administration’s handling of sensitive communications. Despite these concerns, the NSC continues to assert that appropriate security measures are in place and that staff are properly trained on secure communication protocols.
Sources:
- White House suggests national security adviser Mike Waltz received work-related emails on his personal Gmail account
- NSC confirms Mike Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communication
