House

Jeffries: Democrats working to ‘make sure’ Hegseth, Patel ‘are on their way out the door’

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by Max Rego - 04/22/26 9:37 AM ET

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by Max Rego - 04/22/26 9:37 AM ET

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House Minority Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that Democrats will “make sure” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel are next to depart the Trump administration.

During an interview MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell, Jeffries pointed to the recent departures of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from Trump’s Cabinet as examples. Both Noem and Bondi were frequent targets of Democrats’ criticisms.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer also resigned from her post this week as she faced an inspector general probe over alleged misconduct.

“We’re going to make sure that Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel are on their way out the door as well,” Jeffries told “The Last Word” host. “These are people who should have never been confirmed by Senate Republicans.”

“Shame on them for putting these unqualified individuals into these positions of great significance and sensitivity,” he added.

Democrats have criticized Hegseth throughout his time in office, but particularly during the war with Iran. The Pentagon chief has used maximalist rhetoric when discussing the conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes.

“In the meantime, and for as long as it takes, we will maintain this blockade — successful blockade,” Hegseth told reporters last week, referring to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy.”

The defense chief was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in January, with GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joining all 47 Democrats in opposition and Vice President Vance breaking the 50-50 tie. During his confirmation process, Hegseth denied allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement.

As for Patel, the FBI director is under renewed scrutiny after The Atlantic published a story on Friday detailing his alleged frequent drinking and absences from the bureau. Patel has said the reporting is false and is suing the magazine for $250 million, alleging defamation.

Both officials, as civil officers of the U.S., could be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors” by the House and removed from office via a two-thirds vote in the Senate, according to the National Constitution Center.

Jeffries, who could become House speaker if Democrats retake control of the lower chamber in November, said Tuesday that Congress must “bring accountability” to the administration.

“It was James Madison who said that ‘Congress, at its best, should be a rival to the executive branch,’” Jeffries told O’Donnell. “And so, we take that to mean a check and balance on an out-of-control Trump administration.”

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