1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to move immediately to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. His conduct has endangered national security, violated federal law, and potentially constituted war crimes. The evidence demands congressional action. On December 1, 2025, The Washington Post reported that Secretary Hegseth gave explicit orders to kill survivors of an initial September 2nd strike on a boat in the Caribbean. Lawmakers from both parties have called this follow-up strike to murder individuals a potential war crime and are pushing for a bipartisan investigation into these unauthorized boat strikes. This is not merely poor judgment but potentially criminal conduct that violates the laws of armed conflict. Secretary Hegseth has repeatedly compromised classified information. On March 24, 2025, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief reported being accidentally included in a Signal group chat where Hegseth shared highly sensitive US military strike plans for Yemen two hours before the strike occurred. On April 20, 2025, he shared sensitive military attack plans in a Signal chat with a dozen people in his personal circle, including his wife and lawyer, who had no clearance or need to receive such information. Former senior intelligence officers called this a shocking risk to national security. Defense Department officials noted this could violate the Espionage Act. Beyond these security breaches, Secretary Hegseth has systematically undermined military discipline and readiness. On September 30, 2025, he announced changes including fewer consequences for sexual misconduct and war crimes. He eliminated the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a decades-old advisory group. On September 24, 2025, he threatened to revoke journalist access for reporting unclassified information without Pentagon approval, attacking press freedom. Secretary Hegseth's actions demonstrate he is unfit to lead our armed forces. I urge you to support impeachment proceedings and a full investigation into his conduct. Our service members and national security depend on accountability at the highest levels of defense leadership.