House Democrats have formally introduced six articles of impeachment against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for his role in the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran without congressional authorization and other controversial actions.
The resolution, filed on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-Arizona) and supported by several colleagues including John Larson (D-Connecticut), cites Hegseth’s involvement in the March strike on a school in Iran that reportedly killed at least 175 people, including children, as well as deadly strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
Democrats also accuse him of compromising national security by sharing classified information in a Signal group chat in 2025 that included Vice President JD Vance and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and of attempting to punish Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a retired Navy captain, for reminding service members they can refuse illegal orders. Additional charges include efforts to withhold information on civilian casualties and the forced removal of transgender service members from the military.
Ansari described the actions as clear violations of Hegseth’s constitutional oath, stating that the defense secretary “committed a war crime in Iran” and remains a “national security risk to the United States.” The impeachment effort comes as the Trump administration faces intense scrutiny over the escalation of the Iran conflict, which began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson dismissed the articles as “another charade” aimed at distracting from the department’s achievements. Given Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the impeachment resolution is considered highly unlikely to advance. However, it serves as a formal Democratic rebuke and could shape future congressional oversight of military decisions and executive power.
