1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

Congress has a constitutional duty to hold executive officials accountable for willful violations of law and abuse of power. Reports indicate that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized or directed military strikes in the Caribbean that may have violated U.S. law and international humanitarian law. According to multiple sources, a second strike targeted survivors of an initial attack on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, individuals who were no longer a threat — a deliberate action that legal experts have described as illegal and potentially constituting a war crime. The Constitution requires that executive officers faithfully execute the law. Directing lethal force against people hors de combat is prohibited under U.S. law and international law. If these allegations are accurate, Secretary Hegseth has acted outside his legal authority, disregarded the rules of engagement, and placed the United States at risk of serious legal and diplomatic consequences. Impeachment is not reserved solely for criminal conduct; it exists to address officials who abuse their power, violate the law, or threaten the constitutional order. Secretary Hegseth’s reported actions—ordering attacks on noncombatants, bypassing lawful procedures, and risking violations of the law of armed conflict—meet this standard. Congress must: - Open an impeachment inquiry to investigate Secretary Hegseth’s orders - Compel testimony from Hegseth, military commanders, and relevant officials - Review whether disciplinary or criminal accountability is warranted - Ensure that no official can unilaterally authorize illegal military action Failing to act would set a precedent that executive officers can authorize lethal force outside the law with impunity. The American people, the U.S. military, and the international community deserve accountability and adherence to the rule of law.