CODEPINK Demands Arrest of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Over Deadly Attacks on Civilians

CODEPINK activists staged a bold confrontation with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as he arrived for testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on the Department of Defense’s FY27 budget request. Organizer Olivia DiNucc directly challenged Hegseth, demanding answers for his role in ordering the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran and illegal attacks on fishermen in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The group was barred from attending the “public” hearing, highlighting ongoing efforts to keep the public in the dark about military actions that have resulted in significant civilian casualties. Leila, an Iranian-American volunteer with CODEPINK, explained the human cost behind the protest: on the first day of this conflict, 165 schoolchildren reportedly died, including a seven-year-old boy identified only by a single shoe.

“This war is reckless and profoundly costly,” Leila said. “It is deepening chaos in the region rather than resolving any issues. Choosing war over diplomacy is an abdication of responsibility that has caused immense suffering without any clear path to peace.”

CODEPINK’s confrontation comes as part of a new campaign demanding that Hegseth be arrested for war crimes. The group accuses him of launching unprovoked wars, bombing an Iranian elementary school, and killing nearly 200 fishermen in the Caribbean under the pretense of fighting “narco-terrorism.” When Congress recently demanded answers about the Minab school bombing, no response was provided by the deadline.

“Pete Hegseth is a war criminal who should be removed from office and arrested,” said CODEPINK volunteer Debbie Pfaff. “He openly rejects rules of engagement designed to minimize civilian deaths. His actions have caused the deaths of countless innocent people.”

The campaign calls on the media to fulfill their role in holding power accountable by pressing Hegseth for answers and exposing these abuses to the public. CODEPINK’s message is clear: unchecked military aggression under Hegseth’s watch is a direct attack on human rights and international law—and it demands urgent accountability.