Sec. of Defense Hegseth’s Actions Put Troops, Law, and National Security at Risk

As your constituent, I urge you to hold Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accountable for extreme and egregious misconduct. His actions establish a pattern of disregard for law, human life, operational security and independent military judgment. His abuses endanger lives and national security. ENDANGERING TROOPS WITH SIGNAL The Defense Department inspector general found that Hegseth used Signal on a personal phone to send sensitive operational details, violating security and recordkeeping rules and risking pilots and the mission. RETALIATING AGAINST PROTECTED SPEECH A federal judge found that Hegseth’s actions against Anthropic constituted First Amendment retaliation, denied due process, and violated federal procurement law. SUPPORTING LETHAL STRIKES WITHOUT A PUBLICLY ESTABLISHED LAWFUL BASIS United States forces have killed over 220 people in strikes on suspected drug boats. Hegseth has announced and defended the campaign as counterterrorism. Human Rights Watch and United Nations experts call the deaths extrajudicial; the administration has publicly established neither an armed conflict nor an imminent threat. DEFENDING A STRIKE THAT KILLED SURVIVORS A follow-up strike killed two survivors. Hegseth denies ordering their deaths but defended the strike and said he would have made the same decision. REMOVING INDEPENDENT MILITARY LAWYERS Hegseth fired the top uniformed lawyers for the Army and Air Force without publicly citing misconduct, weakening a safeguard against unlawful orders. REMOVING SENIOR LEADERS DESTROYS CONTINUITY Hegseth fired the Navy’s top officer and the Air Force’s vice chief while the administration removed the Joint Chiefs chairman, disrupting continuity and independent judgment. BLOCKING PROMOTIONS RISKS LEADERSHIP VACANCIES Hegseth blocked promotions without explanation; some senior posts remained unfilled. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll reportedly warned the White House that removals harmed readiness before resigning. These abuses require immediate Senate action to protect military readiness, lawful decision-making, and national security. I urge you to: (1) CALL FOR HIS REMOVAL. State publicly that Hegseth is unfit to lead the Defense Department. Support a Senate resolution condemning his conduct and urging him to resign or the President to remove him. (2) INVESTIGATE AND WITHHOLD FUNDING. Press the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees to obtain legal reviews, orders, Signal messages, personnel records, and testimony; publish unclassified findings. Fund no further boat strikes unless Congress authorizes them and a lawful basis is established. (3) RESTORE PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. Require notice and written reasons for senior removals and blocked promotions, protect independent military legal advice, and require the Defense Department to report prolonged command vacancies to Congress. Reject nominees who will not commit to lawful, independent advice. Thank you.