2025 House Resolution 227

Whereas, Publicly reported allegations describe U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Sea, allegedly authorized or directed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, that resulted in the killing of at least one individual reported to be an unarmed civilian fisherman. No evidence has been publicly presented showing that the individuals killed in these strikes were combatants or posed any threat to the United States; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan has a vested interest in ensuring that federal officials entrusted with command of the Armed Forces adhere to the rule of law, that the United States does not engage in war crimes or unlawful killings, and that civilian control of the military is preserved and exercised responsibly; and

Whereas, The War Powers Resolution, 50 U.S.C. § 1541 et seq., requires that the President of the United States ensure that U.S. Armed Forces are employed only pursuant to constitutional and statutory authority, and prohibits unilateral offensive military action without congressional authorization. The Secretary of Defense, having authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense, is also responsible for ensuring that U.S. Armed Forces are utilized in a lawful manner; and

Whereas, The War Crimes Act of 1996, 18 U.S.C. § 2441, criminalizes grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and grave breaches of Common Article 3, including the intentional killing of a person taking no active part in hostilities in the context of an armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of a contracting party; and

Whereas, Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 absolutely forbids “violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds,” against persons not actively participating in hostilities, including fishermen, sailors, and other noncombatant maritime workers; and

Whereas, Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations generally prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” Members may only use force in cases of lawful self-defense, under Article 51, or pursuant to Security Council authorization, under Article 42; and

Whereas, The alleged killing of civilians in the Caribbean Sea by the U.S. Armed Forces, at the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, may constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law, unlawful extrajudicial killings exceeding statutory and constitutional authority, and potential war crimes under 18 U.S.C. § 2441; and

Whereas, The unauthorized use of lethal military force against civilians, particularly in peacetime and outside any authorized theater of conflict, would represent one of the most serious abuses of power imaginable by an American Cabinet official; and

Whereas, Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States provides that civil officers of the United States may be impeached and removed from office for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we emphatically urge the United States House of Representatives to open a formal investigation into the allegations concerning Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s authorization of military actions resulting in the deaths of civilians in the Caribbean Sea; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon the United States House of Representatives, should the evidence support these allegations, to introduce and adopt articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for abuses of power, violations of federal and international law, and actions potentially constituting war crimes under 18 U.S.C. § 2441; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Chair and Ranking Member of the United States House Armed Services Committee, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the President of the United States.