1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Secretary of Defense, is the latest face of a growing wave of corruption and abuse of power inside this administration. The facts are clear and well-documented: • Nepotism: Hegseth hired his own brother, Phil, into a senior Pentagon role—a likely violation of 5 U.S.C. § 3110, the federal anti-nepotism statute. Phil works in the same building, travels on official trips, and operates within Hegseth’s sphere of control. • Security Violations: He brought his wife into classified meetings with foreign officials, blurring legal lines and raising major national security concerns. • Signal App Scandal: He was involved in an unsecured Signal chat leak, leading to public exposure of sensitive information. • Islamophobic Symbolism: His tattoos include “kafir,” a term appropriated by far-right extremists, fueling concerns about extremist sympathies in high office. • Pattern of Abuse: From opposing women in combat to dismantling diversity initiatives in the military, Hegseth has pushed an agenda of exclusion, loyalty, and power—not readiness or accountability. This is not an isolated case. It’s part of a broader pattern of lawlessness, nepotism, and authoritarian behavior that defines the Trump administration’s approach to governance. And far too many in Congress remain silent. I’m asking you directly: When will you speak out? You were elected to uphold the Constitution and defend the integrity of our institutions—not to turn a blind eye while public office is used for personal and political gain. I urge you to investigate these abuses, support legislation to restore ethical standards in executive appointments, and take a public stand against the corruption, self-dealing, and authoritarian rot that has become normalized under this administration. The country is watching. We will remember who chose complicity—and who chose courage.