Skip to content
  1. Newsroom
  2. Press

Following National Security Concerns From SignalGate, Leader Schumer Introduces Legislation To Establish New Office Of Security Training – Requiring Senate-Confirmed Director, Board, & Rigorous Training For White House Personnel To Protect Classified Information And Military Operations

Washington, D.C. – Today, Leader Schumer led the introduction of legislation to establish a new “Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence” within the Executive Office of the President to provide security training and protection of classified information following the discovery that high-level Trump administration officials used an unsecured message chain to discuss operational plans, targets, and weapon systems for upcoming U.S. military strikes in Yemen.

Last week, America learned that top Trump administration officials – including Vice President Vance, National Security Advisor Waltz, and the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Treasury – used an unsecured text chain to discuss operational plans, targets, and weapon systems for upcoming U.S. military strikes in Yemen. This stunning breach of protocol threatened our country’s national security and the lives of American service members abroad.

Today, in response, Leader Schumer led the introduction of the Operational Security (OPSEC) Act of 2025, which would establish a new “Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence” within the Executive Office of the President. This office would provide training, education, and research activities to equip and prepare personnel of the Executive Office of the President; activities to identify, assess, deter, and mitigate foreign and insider threats to the Executive Office of the President; protection of classified information and other sensitive information, including with regard to the use by personnel of the Executive Office of the President of unclassified commercially available messaging applications.

“It is clear – the Trump administration cannot be allowed to hold itself accountable. The stakes are simply too high when it comes to our national security and the safety of our brave service members fighting overseas,” said Leader Schumer. “Expert help from the outside is necessary so that the administration learns the proper way to handle classified information and identify and mitigate threats. Senate Democrats will continue to fight to protect and secure our country, even as President Trump jeopardizes our intelligence, alliances, and standing on the global stage.”

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) are co-sponsors of this legislation.

The Operational Security (OPSEC) Act of 2025 would:

  • Establish a new “Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence” within the Executive Office of the President to provide:
    • Security training —Training, education, and research activities to equip and prepare personnel of the Executive Office of the President through the development and management of on-line and in-person courses, curricula, conferences, and other products.
    • Counterintelligence and insider threat awareness — Activities to identify, assess, deter, and mitigate foreign and insider threats to the Executive Office of the President, both directly and through collaborative engagement with other intelligence and law enforcement organizations.
    • Protection and preservation of classified information — Protection and preservation of classified information and other sensitive information, including with regard to the use by personnel of the Executive Office of the President of unclassified commercially available messaging applications.
      • The new office would be led by a Senate-confirmed director and staffed by career security and counterintelligence professionals detailed from Federal agencies.
  • Establish an outside, congressionally-appointed “Security Training and Counterintelligence Advisory Board” to advise Administration personnel on best practices in security training, counterintelligence and insider threats, and protection of classified information.
    • The Board is required to provide annual reports to congress with recommendations for improving security training, counterintelligence and insider threat awareness, and the protection of classified information used by personnel of the Executive Office of the President.

The full text of this legislation can be seen HERE.

###

Previous
Next