1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you and your colleagues to launch an immediate oversight investigation and call for a formal hearing regarding the actions of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. It was recently reported that Secretary Hegseth traveled to Kentucky to actively campaign at a political rally for a partisan candidate ahead of the state's congressional primary. During this appearance, he openly attacked a sitting member of Congress, Representative Thomas Massie, in an effort to influence the outcome of a democratic election.  While the Pentagon has claimed that Secretary Hegseth attended the event in his "personal capacity," the Hatch Act explicitly prohibits executive branch officials from using their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election. Furthermore, federal guidance and the Department of Defense's own internal regulations strictly bar high-level officials from taking an active part in partisan political management or speaking at campaign rallies for partisan political office.  The defense apparatus of the United States must remain strictly non-partisan to protect the integrity of our military and our democratic processes. A Secretary of Defense using their platform—even under the guise of acting as a "private citizen"—to stump against political rivals sets a dangerous precedent that directly undermines the rule of law.  I urge you to use your position to hold the executive branch accountable. Please advocate for the House to convene a formal hearing to question Secretary Hegseth on these actions, review his compliance with the Hatch Act, and ensure that the Department of Defense is not being weaponized for partisan political campaigns.