Air Force Disciplines 15 for Classified Documents Leak
An Air Force investigation has found that a “lack of supervision” and a “culture of complacency” contributed to a 21-year-old airman sharing hundreds of classified documents online, leading to widespread ramifications and a massive leak of U.S. military secrets.
The investigation discovered that a number of Teixeira’s superiors failed to restrict his access to classified systems and facilities and failed to alert appropriate authorities when they suspected he was illegally sharing classified information. Fifteen members of the Air National Guard were disciplined, ranging in rank from staff sergeant to colonel.
The Air Force Inspector General discovered that Teixeira worked alone in smuggling and sharing classified documents, but other members in his unit were aware of his questionable activity and deliberately failed to report it. The lack of action from higher-ups allowed Teixeira to share hundreds of classified pages on the gaming chat platform Discord, causing major security breaches and embarrassment for the Pentagon.
The report also noted that the leakage was partly due to an improper effort by commanders at Otis Air National Guard to share unnecessary U.S. military intelligence with relatively inexperienced airmen like Teixeira. This created ambiguity for Teixeira’s colleagues to question his need to access classified information.
The investigation also pointed to a lack of supervision during overnight shift operations, where Teixeira and his colleagues were left unsupervised for hours. The absence of proper controls and supervision allowed for the unauthorized access and printing of classified documents.
The investigation found that there was also a disconnect between National Guard leaders at Otis and leaders with the active-duty unit at Joint Base Andrews. The coordination process for disciplinary actions took additional time, which affected good order and discipline.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stated that every airman is entrusted with safeguarding classified information and that those who breach that trust will be held accountable.
The Air Force’s completion of the investigation and subsequent disciplinary actions are a clear indication that the service takes the protection of classified information seriously and is committed to holding responsible individuals accountable.