Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao orders service members to review social media for sensitive information

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao warned Navy personnel on Tuesday that they must review their social media accounts to ensure they are not posting information that could be sensitive, including material that might endanger ongoing operations or reveal vulnerabilities, according to a report by The Washington Times. The directive came as the Pentagon continues to monitor drone activity near U.S. military bases, a pattern Cao linked to broader intelligence-gathering activity and testing of defenses.

Cao’s comments were framed around a need to reduce security risks created by routine online behavior, the report said. He urged service members to examine what they share and how it could be interpreted, emphasizing that even details posted by individual users can create security gaps when combined with other information.

The Washington Times reported that Cao described the reported increase in drone activity near U.S. military sites as part of a coordinated effort to gather intelligence and test defenses. Cao tied the activity to operational changes that have intensified since the start of the U.S. war on Iran, according to the same account.

In his warning, Cao also emphasized that the Navy will take steps to ensure personnel understand what constitutes sensitive information, and how social media habits can conflict with requirements to protect operations and force protection. The report did not describe specific penalties or cite a particular policy document by name, but characterized the message as an immediate personnel reminder.

The issue is significant because social media can quickly spread photos, location details, and procedural information that individuals may not consider operationally sensitive. Cao’s warning, as described by The Washington Times, suggested the Navy views these risks as part of a wider security challenge, including unmanned aerial activity that can be used to probe base defenses.

While the report centered on Cao’s remarks, it also pointed to a broader operational context in which U.S. forces have faced repeated questions about how to defend facilities against drones. In that setting, the Navy’s effort to reduce exposure from personnel posts reflects a management approach that addresses both external threats and internal information handling.

The next step, based on the reporting, is that service members will be expected to comply with the directive by reviewing their accounts and adjusting what they share. The Washington Times account indicated the warning is meant to prevent inadvertent disclosure, with the underlying objective of protecting operational security as drone-related probing continues.

The Washington Times report did not specify whether the Navy planned additional inspections focused specifically on social media, nor did it detail how commanders would verify compliance. However, Cao’s message underscored that the Navy views personnel-generated online content as a potential national security risk during a period when drone incidents have been rising near U.S. military installations.