Senator Gillibrand calls for Hegseth's removal as Iran war deepens cost-of-living crisis

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand intensified her pressure on the Pentagon, declaring that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lacks the "approval or the mandate" to continue in his post. Gillibrand's challenge comes at a time when the United States is struggling with the inflationary fallout of the war with Iran.

Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, wrote that a majority of Americans disapprove of the war, while the Trump administration continues to ignore the evidence. "Trump and Hegseth keep putting Americans under economic pressure," Gillibrand declared and called for Hegseth's removal.

The junior senator joins a chorus of Democrats who view the administration's military strategy as a direct threat to domestic economic stability. House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, recently introduced six articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Eight representatives signed on as co-sponsors.

The articles accuse Hegseth of running an unauthorized war against Iran without congressional approval; committing violations of the Law of Armed Conflict including the bombing of a girls' school in Minab, Iran; the reckless handling of sensitive military information in connection with the "Signalgate" scandal; obstructing congressional oversight; abusing power and politicizing the U.S. armed forces; and engaging in conduct bringing disrepute upon the armed forces.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told Axios that Hegseth "will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength." Democrats do not have the numbers to pass this measure, given the Republican majority, but it nonetheless highlights growing frustration with a war that has no end in sight.

Meanwhile, Iran said it is evaluating the U.S. response to its proposal for ending the war, according to the Associated Press. The report added that the negotiations do not concern Iran's nuclear program.

The program, along with enriched Uranium, has been the bone of contention between Washington and Tehran, preventing a swift resolution to the 60-day war. The embattled country has called for the lifting of sanctions, ending the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdrawal of US forces, and a cessation of all hostilities, including Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon. Iran's proposal seeks to end the war definitively within 30 days.

Trump recently posted that his government was reviewing the proposal, but cautioned that he does not expect it to be "acceptable." However, it must be noted that there is pressure on Trump to end the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ease gasoline prices across the world. Iran closed the Strait following US and Israeli airstrikes targeting military and government sites.