Mar 25, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Hakeem Jeffries calls for Pete Hegseth to be fired

Andrew Solender

Hakeem Jeffries, wearing a blue suit and speaking to reporters in a white hallway. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on March 24. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be "fired immediately" after a journalist was accidentally added to a highly sensitive signal chat on military strikes in Yemen.

Why it matters: Jeffries is now the highest-ranking member of Congress who has called for an administration official to be ousted in response to the blunder.

Some lawmakers have already called for resignations, other repercussions or at least an investigation into the incident.
Democrats have been using Intelligence Committee hearings this week to grill top Trump national security officials on the breach.

What he's saying: "Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history," Jeffries wrote in a letter to President Trump.

"The so-called Secretary of Defense recklessly and casually disclosed highly sensitive war plans ... during an unclassified national security group chat that inexplicably included a reporter," he continued.
"Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should be fired immediately."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Hakeem Jeffries calls for Pete Hegseth to be fired

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