Democrat Lawmakers Move To Impeach Pentagon Chief Hegseth Over Iran War

Democrat members of thr US House of Representatives have introduced six articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” including launching military action against Iran without congressional approval.

The impeachment resolution was being led by Yassamin Ansari, who disclosed the move in a post on X on Wednesday. However, the effort faced steep odds in the Republican-controlled House, where it was unlikely to secure enough support to pass.

Impeachment in the United States allows the House of Representatives to formally charge a public official with wrongdoing, but removal from office requires conviction by the Senate following a trial.

“I’ve introduced Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for violating his oath, endangering U.S. servicemembers, and committing war crimes, including attacks on civilians and a girls’ school in Minab, Iran,” Ansari wrote.

“Only Congress can declare war; his actions demand immediate removal.”

The articles accused Hegseth of initiating hostilities with Iran “without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization by the Congress,” thereby exposing US troops to “substantial and foreseeable risk of injury or death.”

Another charge linked the Defence Secretary to a strike on a primary school in Minab on February 28 — the day US and Israeli forces began bombing Iran — which reportedly killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.

According to The New York Times, preliminary findings from a US military investigation suggested the school was hit by a Tomahawk cruise missile due to a targeting error.

The impeachment articles further alleged that Hegseth “authorized, condoned, or failed to prevent the use of military force in a manner inconsistent with the law of armed conflict,” citing the school strike among other incidents.

Democrats also criticised the use of so-called “double tap” strikes — repeated attacks on the same targets — against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, arguing that such tactics violated rules of engagement designed to protect civilians.

Additional allegations included the “negligence and reckless handling” of sensitive military information and obstruction of congressional oversight. Lawmakers referenced Hegseth’s reported use of the messaging app Signal to discuss military operations in Yemen.

Responding to the development, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson dismissed the move, telling Axios it was “just another Democrat trying to make headlines as the Department of War decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the President’s objectives in Iran.”

The impeachment push comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the conflict contributing to rising global oil prices.