House Democrats plan to introduce five articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, marking the latest partisan push against a top Trump administration official as tensions escalate over U.S. military operations in Iran.
A seven-page resolution accuses Hegseth of a range of serious offenses, including abuse of power, alleged war crimes, and mishandling of sensitive information, Axios reported.
The effort is being led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., and backed by a group of progressive lawmakers and activist organizations.
Despite the sweeping accusations, the measure is widely seen as symbolic, with virtually no chance of passing in the current GOP-led Congress.
Still, it shows Democrats' growing focus on Hegseth as a political target following earlier, unsuccessful impeachment pushes against other Trump Cabinet officials.
The resolution lays out five articles of impeachment, with the first centered on claims that the administration launched military strikes against Iran without congressional authorization.
Ansari and her allies argue that such actions endangered U.S. service members and violated constitutional limits on executive war powers.
Additional articles accuse Hegseth of violating the law of armed conflict, including allegations tied to reported strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran.
Democrats have pointed to incidents such as the bombing of a girls' school in Minab and attacks on key facilities as evidence of misconduct, claims the administration has strongly disputed.
Another article revisits the so-called "Signalgate" controversy, in which a journalist was mistakenly included in a private messaging thread discussing military operations.
The resolution alleges negligence in handling classified information, along with obstruction of congressional oversight and conduct unbecoming of a defense secretary.
Ansari, who has been outspoken in her opposition to the administration's Iran strategy, said in an X post on April 6 that Hegseth is "complicit" in what she described as an "illegal war."
She has also floated invoking the 25th Amendment against President Donald Trump, escalating rhetoric that critics say reflects political motivations rather than substantive oversight.
The Pentagon swiftly dismissed the impeachment effort as a partisan stunt.
Press secretary Kingsley Wilson told Axios the move is "just another Democrat trying to make headlines" while the Department of War has "decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the President's objectives in Iran."
She added that Hegseth "will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength."
Supporters of the administration argue the strikes on Iran are necessary to counter threats and promote stability in the region, pointing to statements from Trump and other officials that the campaign is ultimately aimed at securing freedom and safety for both Americans and the Iranian people.
The impeachment push, while unlikely to advance, highlights the deep partisan divide in Washington over foreign policy and the use of military force, and signals that Democrats are continuing to escalate their opposition heading into a contentious election cycle.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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