House Democrats plan to introduce five articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of abuse of power, war crimes, and other serious wrongdoing.
The resolution has virtually no chance of passing the Republican-controlled Congress, but it signals that Democrats have coalesced around Hegseth as their top target in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The party previously pushed to impeach former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, both of whom were later ousted by Trump.
The seven-page measure, first obtained by Axios, focuses primarily on U.S. military operations in Iran, the Signalgate scandal, and Hegseth’s alleged personal misconduct. It is being introduced by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), president of the House Democrats’ freshman class and the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress.
Eight Democrats are co-sponsoring: Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Nikema Williams of Georgia, Dina Titus of Nevada, David Min of California, Shri Thanedar of Michigan, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, and Sarah McBride of Delaware.
Article 1 accuses Hegseth of “unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of United States service members” for launching strikes without congressional approval and signing off on plans that involved “extreme and unnecessary risk” to U.S. personnel, including consideration of ground operations.
Article 2 charges him with “violations of the Law of Armed Conflict and targeting of civilians.” It says he “authorized, condoned, or failed to prevent” operations resulting in “large numbers of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Iran,” citing the alleged U.S. bombing of a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, and double-tap strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats in the Caribbean.
It also references Hegseth’s statement that the U.S. will have “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies,” saying the comments raise “serious concerns of violations of the Geneva Conventions.”
Article 3 addresses “negligence and reckless handling of sensitive military information” in the Signalgate scandal, in which Atlantic editor Jeff Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal chat where Hegseth and other officials discussed strikes in Yemen. It says Hegseth “has demonstrated gross negligence” that “placed United States personnel at risk.”
Article 4 alleges “obstruction of congressional oversight,” claiming Hegseth failed to provide “timely and complete information regarding military operations” and withheld “material facts relating to civilian casualties and operational conduct in Iran, Venezuela, and other military theaters.”
Article 5 accuses him of “conduct bringing disrepute upon the United States and its armed forces.” It says Hegseth “acted in a manner contrary to the public trust” and “shaken public confidence in the integrity and ability” of the Pentagon, citing the administration’s criticism of NATO, rollback of DEI and affirmative action programs, and restrictions on transgender service members.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson dismissed the resolution as a political stunt.
“This is just another Democrat trying to make headlines as the Department of War decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the President’s objectives in Iran,” Wilson said in a statement, adding that Hegseth “will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength.”
“This is just another charade in an attempt to distract the American people from the major successes we have had here at the Department of War,” Wilson added.
