April 16, 2026

US Democrats move to impeach Defence Secretary Hegseth

US House Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” including launching military action against Iran without congressional approval.

 

The resolution, led by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, outlines six charges ranging from alleged war powers violations to endangering US service members and mishandling sensitive military information.

 

Lawmakers argued that only Congress has the authority to declare war, claiming Hegseth’s actions bypassed that constitutional requirement.

 

The impeachment effort, however, faces significant hurdles in the United States House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority, making passage unlikely.

 

Among the allegations is a controversial strike on a school in Iran, reportedly caused by a targeting error, as well as claims of unlawful military tactics and obstruction of congressional oversight.

 

Responding to the move, Pentagon officials dismissed the impeachment push as politically motivated, insisting that military operations had achieved their objectives.

 

If approved by the House, the process would move to the Senate, where a conviction would be required to remove the defence secretary from office.