Costa Statement Following House Vote on Impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the House voted 211-204 to refer articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively blocking the impeachment effort:

“After consultation with retired senior military officers and former Secretaries of Defense, I voted against the effort to block impeachment proceedings. I am deeply disappointed that House Republicans chose to shield Secretary Hegseth from accountability rather than allow Congress to consider these serious allegations. Our Constitution is not optional, and those entrusted with our national security must be held accountable when they abuse that trust.  

No Secretary of Defense, nor any cabinet member, is above the law, and no President has the authority to drag our nation into an endless war without accountability to the American people. 

For months, Secretary Pete Hegseth has helped carry out a war in Iran without congressional authorization, disregarding the constitutional authority of Congress and the limits established by the War Powers Resolution. The articles of impeachment also raise serious allegations of unlawful military strikes, extrajudicial killings, disregard for civilian lives, suppressing free speech of veterans, and abuse of power. 

Our service members have been put in harm’s way, American families are paying the price of this war, and the Secretary continues to evade accountability for his decisions. 

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I take seriously our responsibility to defend the Constitution and ensure that decisions of war and peace are subject to the rule of law. Supporting our troops does not mean giving this Administration a blank check to wage war.”