'Resign Immediately': Democrats Demand Pete Hegseth Step Down Over Iran War Failures

At a rare congressional hearing this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came under withering criticism from Democratic lawmakers over his management of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The hearing, focused on the Pentagon’s record-setting $1.5 trillion budget request, quickly devolved into a fierce confrontation about Hegseth’s leadership failures.

Democrats blasted Hegseth for the lack of transparency surrounding the war and the costly human toll it has taken. Representative Salud Carbajal did not mince words, calling Hegseth “incompetent” and a “gift that keeps on giving” in terms of mismanagement. Representative Patrick Ryan went further, demanding Hegseth’s immediate resignation after highlighting accounts from troops who survived an Iranian drone attack on their base in Kuwait. Survivors told CBS News they felt their unit was left dangerously exposed due to Pentagon negligence.

The financial cost of the conflict was another major point of contention. Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst testified that the war had already drained an estimated $25 billion in just two months. Democrats questioned Hegseth’s stewardship as the price tag mounted with no clear end in sight.

Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend anchor turned defense chief, came prepared for battle. He attacked congressional Democrats and some Republicans as “reckless” and “defeatist,” refusing to concede any fault. His combative style frustrated lawmakers and even required repeated interventions from the Republican committee chairman to keep the hearing on track.

While most Republicans refrained from joining the harsh Democratic criticism, some quietly expressed unease. Representative Austin Scott openly disagreed with Hegseth’s controversial firing of Army General Randy George, warning that the Pentagon needed bipartisan support to pass its funding bills. Representative Don Bacon pressed Hegseth on why $400 million in security aid for Ukraine, approved by Congress months ago, remained withheld.

Despite the backlash, Hegseth doubled down on the Trump administration’s aggressive Iran policy, insisting the U.S. is “absolutely” winning the war. He deflected blame by posing a rhetorical question: would Democrats prefer Iran to acquire nuclear weapons? This deflection came amid growing public unease about the war’s escalating costs, including rising gas and food prices linked to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Hegseth’s refusal to admit mistakes and the mounting bipartisan frustration highlight deep fissures within the Pentagon and Congress over the direction of U.S. military engagement in the Middle East. As the conflict nears the 60-day legal limit for unauthorized military operations, calls for accountability and leadership change are intensifying.

This hearing exposed not just a defense secretary on the defensive but a Trump administration grappling with the consequences of its reckless war-making and disregard for democratic oversight. The demand from Democrats for Hegseth’s immediate resignation signals a growing urgency to hold those responsible accountable before more lives and taxpayer dollars are lost.