On March 26, 2025, the House Intelligence Committee convened to assess global threats, bringing together FBI Director Kash Patel, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to testify. The hearing quickly zeroed in on a leaked Signal chat, reported by The Atlantic, which disclosed classified military plans against Yemen. This breach shifted the focus to the security of sensitive information and the intelligence community’s response.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) took a prominent role, pressing Patel on the FBI’s handling of the leak. She highlighted her surprise that Patel had only recently learned of the issue, despite her own awareness of it for two days. When she asked whether the FBI should investigate, Patel initially pointed to ongoing litigation and NSC review as reasons for withholding comment. As Houlahan pushed further, Patel fired back, “No, it’s not. I’m not going to prejudge any matter, and the men and women of the FBI will call the balls and strikes. Not you.” This sharp reply emphasized his stance on maintaining the FBI’s independence from external influence, revealing a clear tension between congressional oversight and executive authority.
Certain narratives have framed Patel’s retort as a “brutal takedown” of Houlahan, suggesting he decisively shut down her line of questioning. Yet, the hearing transcript paints a more balanced picture: Houlahan sought accountability, while Patel defended the FBI’s autonomy. The leaked chat itself underscored vulnerabilities in protecting classified data, fueling demands for a thorough investigation. As the session ended, unresolved issues lingered, signaling ongoing scrutiny for the intelligence community as it grapples with balancing transparency and national security.
