National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and members of his staff used personal Gmail accounts for government-related communications, according to a new report from The Washington Post.
Documents reviewed by the Post revealed that Waltz received work schedules and official documents through his personal email. Additionally, one of his senior aides reportedly used Gmail for detailed discussions about military positions and weapons systems with other government agency staff members.
The revelation comes shortly after Waltz acknowledged accidentally adding a journalist to a sensitive Signal group chat that included Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials discussing military plans.
NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes responded to the Gmail usage claims, stating that Waltz only received emails from "legacy contacts" on his personal account. Hughes emphasized that Waltz copied government email addresses on communications to maintain proper records and never transmitted classified information through unsecured channels.
President Donald Trump defended Waltz amid the controversy, telling reporters that his National Security Advisor was "doing his best" and shouldn't apologize for the Signal chat incident.
The NSC maintains that staff members are explicitly instructed to use secure channels for classified communications and must preserve all government-related correspondence for record-keeping purposes.
Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about these communication practices. Representative Ted Lieu of California called for Waltz's resignation, citing "lack of common sense and judgment" in handling sensitive information.
The National Security Council is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the Signal chat incident, while questions about proper communication protocols within the administration continue to mount.