House Democrats Move to Impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with Five Articles
House Democrats are set to file five impeachment articles against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to a report from Axios. The articles accuse Hegseth of "abusing the powers of his office" and "reckless handling of sensitive information," though they face slim chances of passing in the current Congress.
Timing and Political Context
The impeachment resolution is expected to be filed on Wednesday, as Democrats intensify their focus on Hegseth following the recent ousting of Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary and Pam Bondi as Attorney General. This move represents a strategic escalation in congressional scrutiny of the administration's national security team.
Key Allegations in the Impeachment Articles
The resolution, obtained by Axios, centers on two primary controversies: Hegseth's role in the war in Iran and the Signalgate scandal that marred the early months of the Trump administration.
Article 1 accuses Hegseth of "unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of United States service members." It alleges he failed to seek congressional approval for U.S. strikes on Iran, knowingly exposed armed forces to substantial risk, and conducted operations lacking defined objectives.
Article 2 charges Hegseth with violating laws by targeting civilians, specifically citing an attack on a girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran. A preliminary investigation suggested U.S. involvement, with over 175 fatalities, including children. Democrats also criticize his March 13 press briefing comment, "no quarter, no mercy for our enemies," calling it an unlawful command implying no prisoners taken.
Article 3 revisits the Signalgate saga, alleging "gross negligence in the handling of sensitive and classified military information." In March 2025, Hegseth reportedly sent messages about airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen via a private messaging app group chat that included senior officials like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, added accidentally by then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Articles 4 and 5 accuse Hegseth of failing to provide timely information to Congress and bringing disrepute upon the U.S. and its armed forces.
Democratic Sponsors and Response
Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari, the first Iranian-American Democrat in Congress, is introducing the resolution. It is co-sponsored by eight others, including Representatives Sarah McBride of Delaware, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Steve Cohen of Tennessee. Democrats argue Hegseth's actions constitute "a betrayal of trust and a dereliction of duty to safeguard national security."
Pentagon and Presidential Reaction
The Pentagon has dismissed the impeachment effort. Press secretary Kingsley Wilson told Axios the resolution is "just another charade" to distract from the Department of War's successes in Iran. President Trump has consistently supported Hegseth, praising his performance last month and noting that former critics in the Senate have come around, calling him "a great choice."
This impeachment push highlights ongoing partisan tensions over national security and executive authority, with Democrats leveraging Hegseth's controversies to challenge the administration's conduct.
