Key Democrats in the House of Representatives, known as the New Democrat Coalition, are demanding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quit his job right away. They say he must resign because of two big problems: first, he leaked secret military information, which they call “Signalgate.” Second, there are claims about his actions in the “deadly boat strikes” in the Caribbean. Critics believe Hegseth has shown he is not good at his job and that his actions have put U.S. soldiers’ lives in danger and hurt national security.
Pentagon IG Report Confirms Security Risks of ‘Signalgate’
The trouble over Hegseth sharing secret information is called “Signalgate.” The Pentagon’s own watchdog, the Inspector General (IG), wrote a bad report about it. The report said the Secretary put U.S. troops at risk by sharing secret plans about an upcoming attack—specifically against a group called Houthi militants in Yemen—in a private, unsecure chat on the Signal app. The report confirmed that Hegseth shared important details, like when the attack would happen, using his personal phone. This broke the rules and was a big risk to the mission’s safety.
Hegseth said he was “totally cleared” and that the information was not secret. But the IG report said the opposite. It stated that his actions went against department rules and put U.S. troops and mission goals at risk. Also, Hegseth did not cooperate fully with the investigation. He would not be interviewed and only gave a written statement. Critics say this shows he doesn’t want to take responsibility and tried to stop the investigation. Sharing this secret military information on a personal messaging app is what first made people call for him to be removed.
The Controversy of ‘Deadly Boat Strikes’ in the Caribbean
Another serious issue is the close look at a military operation in the Caribbean. Critics, including Democrats, say Hegseth played a part in what they call a “likely illegal double-tap strike.” It is claimed that the military first attacked a boat believed to be carrying drugs. Then, they reportedly fired a second time, hitting the survivors who were already hurt and could not fight back.
The claims suggest that Hegseth ordered the action that led to the killing of the hurt survivors. This raises big questions about the rules of war and whether international laws were broken. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) first called for him to resign over this, saying that if the claims are true, Hegseth “likely committed a war crime.” The Democratic group says Hegseth is “denying any accountability” for this strike, just as he refused to fully cooperate with the Signalgate investigation.
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Democratic Coalition Demands Immediate Resignation
The New Democrat Coalition made a very strong public statement. They said that both the secret information leak and the boat strikes show a massive failure of leadership.
The statement said: “The Inspector General’s report confirms what we’ve known all along: Secretary Hegseth is incompetent, reckless, and a threat to the lives of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces.” The leaders stressed that Hegseth constantly refuses to take responsibility, would not work with the IG, and tries to “lie, dodge, deflect, and shockingly scapegoat his subordinates.” They said this proves he is unfit to be the Defense Secretary. They ended with a warning that he “is a disgrace to the office he holds and should resign immediately before his actions cost American lives.” This strong demand from a major group in Congress means the pressure on Hegseth to quit is now at its highest point.
The Future of U.S. Military Leadership Accountability
The two problems, Signalgate and the deadly boat strikes, have put a spotlight on the issues of leadership, accountability, and how secret information is handled by the top leaders of the U.S. Defense Department. Democrats see this as a clear example of a high official showing bad judgment and not respecting military rules and the law. Their demand for him to quit is not just a political move; it is a request to bring back trust and make sure U.S. military personnel operating worldwide are safe. As the political fighting in Washington D.C. grows stronger, the question of whether Pete Hegseth will keep his job is a major national security and political issue.
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning a major U.S. political and military controversy. Readers should cross-check updates from official news outlets and government releases for the latest developments.