[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1177 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1177
Impeaching Peter B. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States,
for high crimes and misdemeanors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 15, 2026
Ms. Ansari (for herself, Ms. McBride, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Green of
Texas, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Titus, Mr.
Min, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Pettersen, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Quigley, and Mr.
Larson of Connecticut) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Impeaching Peter B. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States,
for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Resolved, That Peter B. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United
States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the
following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate:
Articles of Impeachment Exhibited by the House of Representatives
of the United States of America in the Name of Itself and of the People
of the United States of America, against Peter. B Hegseth, Secretary of
Defense of the United States, in maintenance and support of its
impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors.
article 1: unauthorized war against iran and reckless endangerment of
united states servicemembers
In his conduct of the office of Secretary of Defense of the United
States, Peter B. Hegseth, in violation of his constitutional oath
faithfully to execute the office of Secretary of Defense and, to the
best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of
the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take
care that the laws be faithfully executed, has engaged in high crimes
and misdemeanors in that--
(1) lacking lawful authority, and in direct contravention
of Article I of the Constitution, which vests in the Congress
the sole power to declare war, and the War Powers Resolution,
Peter B. Hegseth has willfully participated in and directed the
initiation and escalation of armed hostilities against the
Islamic Republic of Iran--which is a brutal regime that
terrorizes its own people--without a declaration of war or
specific statutory authorization by the Congress;
(2) he has failed to seek or obtain meaningful consultation
with Congress prior to such actions, thereby usurping
legislative authority and undermining the separation of powers;
(3) he has authorized, supported, and advanced military
operations lacking defined objectives, lawful authorization, or
clear strategic necessity, knowingly exposing members of the
Armed Forces of the United States to substantial and
foreseeable risk of injury or death;
(4) he has endorsed and facilitated operational plans
involving extreme and unnecessary risk to United States
personnel and interests, including potential ground operations
within Iran, thereby recklessly endangering the lives of
American servicemembers deployed in combat operations and
stationed throughout the Middle East; and
(5) he has demonstrated a willful disregard for the
Constitution, abused the powers of his office, and acted in a
manner grossly incompatible with the rule of law.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
article ii: violations of the law of armed conflict and targeting of
civilians
In further violation of his constitutional oath and duties, Peter
B. Hegseth has engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors in that--
(1) he has authorized, condoned, or failed to prevent the
use of military force in a manner inconsistent with the law of
armed conflict, such as operations resulting in large numbers
of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian
infrastructure in Iran, including a girls' school in Minab;
(2) he has undermined or disregarded established rules of
engagement designed to minimize harm to noncombatants,
including illegal ``double tap'' strikes in the southern
Caribbean; and
(3) he has engaged in conduct that raises serious concerns
of violations of the Geneva Conventions and other binding legal
obligations of the United States, including by stating that the
United States shall give ``no quarter, no mercy for our
enemies,'' which is an unlawful command.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
article iii: negligence and reckless handling of sensitive military
information
In his conduct of the office of Secretary of Defense, Peter B.
Hegseth has engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors in that--
(1) he has demonstrated gross negligence in the handling of
sensitive and classified military information, including
through the use of unsecured communications systems like the
Signal app to transmit or discuss operational details in
flagrant contravention of United States law and military
standards; and
(2) he has compromised operational security and placed
United States personnel at risk through this careless and
improper conduct.
Such conduct constitutes a betrayal of the trust placed in him and
a dereliction of his duty to safeguard national security.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
article iv: obstruction of congressional oversight
Peter B. Hegseth has directed or engaged in efforts to obstruct the
constitutional oversight responsibilities of Congress by--
(1) failing to provide timely and complete information
regarding military operations;
(2) withholding material facts relating to civilian
casualties and operational conduct in Iran, Venezuela, and
other military theaters; and
(3) interfering with the ability of Congress to exercise
its constitutional responsibilities.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
article v: abuse of power and politicization of the armed forces
Peter B. Hegseth has abused the powers of his office by--
(1) using his position to influence military decisions for
improper political purposes;
(2) intervening in military disciplinary or personnel
matters in a manner inconsistent with established law and
practice, including targeting and launching bogus
investigations against specific elected officials for the
express purpose of political retribution; and
(3) undermining the principle of a nonpartisan and
professional Armed Forces.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
article vi: conduct bringing disrepute upon the united states and its
armed forces
Through the cumulative conduct described in these Articles, Peter
B. Hegseth has--
(1) acted in a manner contrary to the public trust as
Secretary of Defense;
(2) shaken public confidence in the integrity and ability
of the Department of Defense, including by undermining United
States commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and
United States credibility around the world;
(3) brought disrepute upon the United States, its Armed
Forces, and the Department of Defense by violating its laws and
the codes of conduct bestowed upon public servants; and
(4) degrading the readiness and cohesion of U.S. Armed
Forces by--
(A) denigrating women, LGBTQ+, and people of color
serving the United States, including by forcibly
separating transgender people from service;
(B) personally intervening in promotions to deny
the elevation of qualified Black and women officers;
(C) attacking women's physical qualifications,
restricting their access to reproductive care, and
undermining systems to address sexual harassment and
assault in the military; and
(D) promoting standards of appearance that
disproportionately penalize Black servicemembers.
Wherefore Peter B. Hegseth, by such conduct, warrants impeachment
and trial, and removal from office.
<all>