A House Democrat announced Monday she will seek to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking the latest Democratic offensive against the Pentagon chief over escalating U.S. military operations in Iran.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, the freshman class president among House Democrats, said she will introduce articles of impeachment next week accusing Hegseth of "repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution." She cited his "reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes" as grounds for removal.
The move reflects a broader Democratic strategy of targeting Hegseth as the administration's most vulnerable Cabinet figure. Polling data shows he ranks among the least popular members of Trump's team, a position weakened further by the mounting human and financial toll of the Iran conflict.
Ansari, who is Iranian-American, went beyond impeachment in her statement, calling on Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president himself. She cited a Truth Social post from Easter Sunday in which Trump addressed Iranian leaders with vulgar language and threats, referring to controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
"The 25th Amendment exists for a reason; his Cabinet should use it," Ansari said. "The fate of U.S. troops, the Iranian people, and the very foundation of our global system are at stake."
The White House and Pentagon declined to comment on the announcement.
Realistic prospects for either effort are essentially nonexistent. Republicans control both chambers of Congress, and removing an executive official requires a two-thirds Senate majority. Trump's Cabinet consists almost entirely of loyalists unlikely to support invoking the 25th Amendment under any circumstances.
Hegseth is not the first Democratic target. Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan introduced his own articles of impeachment against the defense secretary last year but has not pushed for a floor vote.
Ansari's impeachment push comes as Democrats search for ways to challenge the administration's Iran strategy, which has drawn criticism for its unpredictability and potential consequences for regional stability and American military personnel.
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