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What major controversies has Pete Hegseth faced during his tenure as the U.S. secretary of defense?

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During his time as the U.S. secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth has faced several major controversies. He was investigated for sharing classified information about military strikes on Yemen in insecure Signal group chats, which the Department of Defense inspector general found could have endangered U.S. troops. Hegseth also drew scrutiny for ordering lethal strikes on civilian boats near Venezuela, with reports of civilian deaths sparking accusations of war crimes. Additionally, his promotion of cutting defense budgets and removing diversity initiatives has brought criticism. In November 2026, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, accusing him of violating federal law and the Constitution with military action in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran. The bid to impeach Hegseth failed.