H.Res. 1177

[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>