Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) on Wednesday demanded that both Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth resign, citing Lutnick’s controversial statement that no Americans died in the Iran war and what Lieu described as deep dysfunction in the U.S. military.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “All In” with host Jacob Soboroff, Lieu responded to a question about the state of the Navy and Army, which Soboroff described as “in dire straits.” Lieu did not hold back.
“I agree with Republican Senator Thom Tillis that Secretary Hegseth should resign,” Lieu said. “I served on four years in the U.S. military on active duty and additional 21 years in the reserves, and I’ve never seen this kind of chaos and dysfunction. I also know that the problems go much deeper than just one secretary.”
Lieu, a former active-duty Air Force officer who also served in the reserves, pointed to the recent conflict with Iran as evidence of systemic failures. “The Iran war showed that a second-rate Iranian military damaged multiple U.S. bases, and that we’re running out of munitions,” he said. “So now the whole world has seen that the United States cannot sustain a war, cannot defend our bases, cannot defend our allies. We need an entirely new defense strategy, with new tactics and new budget priorities.”
His comments come amid mounting criticism of Hegseth, who has faced bipartisan pressure over his leadership of the Pentagon. Tillis, a Republican senator from North Carolina, has already called for Hegseth’s resignation, a rare break from a member of the president’s own party over a Cabinet official.
But Lieu’s sharpest rebuke was reserved for Lutnick, the Commerce secretary, over remarks made earlier Wednesday. “Commerce Secretary Lutnick, today, he said something really outrageous,” Lieu said. “He said no Americans died in the Iran war. He disrespected the people that died, and he disrespected their families. He needs to apologize, or else he needs to resign.”
Lutnick’s comments, which have not been fully detailed in the MSNBC interview, drew immediate condemnation from Lieu, who framed them as an insult to the fallen and their families. The secretary has not yet responded publicly to the demand for an apology or resignation.
Lieu’s call for Lutnick’s resignation expands the political fallout from the Iran conflict, which has already strained the Biden administration’s (or current administration’s) defense posture. The congressman suggested the problems are not isolated to individual leaders but reflect a broader strategic failure.
“We need an entirely new defense strategy,” Lieu reiterated, emphasizing the need for updated tactics and budget priorities in light of the military’s vulnerabilities exposed during the war.
The interview comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of both the Pentagon and the Commerce Department, with critics questioning whether the administration is adequately addressing national security challenges. Lieu’s remarks underscore growing bipartisan frustration in Congress over the handling of the Iran war and its aftermath.
Neither Lutnick nor Hegseth has indicated any willingness to step down, and the White House has not commented on Lieu’s demands. However, with a Republican senator already calling for Hegseth’s resignation, the political pressure is mounting.
As the debate continues, Lieu’s calls are likely to resonate with veterans and military families who are grappling with the human cost of the conflict. His personal service record lends weight to his criticisms, which he framed not as partisan attacks but as urgent pleas for accountability.
“I’ve never seen this kind of chaos and dysfunction,” Lieu said, reflecting a sentiment that may echo beyond his party’s base.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/02/dem-rep-lieu-secretary-lutnick-and-secretary-hegseth-need-to-resign/