Nearly a dozen senators issue Hegseth short deadline to answer for 'troubling allegations' [View all]

Source: MEDIAite

April 20, 2026 1:30PM ET


Nearly a dozen Democratic senators issued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a two-week deadline to provide answers for a series of “troubling allegations,” including that cuts to civilian harm prevention programs under his leadership may have contributed to at least 1,700 civilian deaths.

The demand was issued in the form of a letter, signed off on by 11 Democratic senators, and comes amid reports of significant civilian casualties in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. According to an Iranian official, at least 3,375 people have been killed from U.S.-Israeli strikes since Feb. 28, including 383 children.

The letter was also issued amid reports that Hegseth had made “deep cuts” to the Defense Department’s mitigation and response programs, and slashed staff at the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence by “more than 90%.”

“This is a concerning pattern and raises questions about whether the administration is upholding international law and the laws of war. We are also concerned that your leadership is further harming the credibility of our armed forces, exacerbating threats to civilians and U.S. servicemembers alike,” the letter reads.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-2676787697/