Timeline

At his confirmation hearing, Hegseth tells the Senate he has thought about the balance between legality and lethality and wants to make sure lawyers aren't the ones getting in the way.

The senior Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy and Air Force are removed. At a February 25 press conference Hegseth says he does not want military lawyers to be roadblocks to a commander in chief's orders.

Operation Rough Rider begins in Yemen. Over 52 days it will comprise more than 1,100 strikes. The required 48-hour report to Congress is not sent until March 28.

The Signal group chat planning the Yemen strikes leaks. In it, Hegseth writes that the operation can "easily pause."

Hegseth sends Congress a proposal to repeal 10 U.S.C. § 184, the statute requiring civilian-protection systems at the Department. Congress declines.

An Execute Order sets targeting guidelines for strikes on vessels linked to "Designated Terrorist Organizations," requiring only "reasonable certainty" of affiliation.

First boat strike, off Venezuela. Eleven aboard. About 45 minutes later a second strike kills the two survivors clinging to the wreckage.

Hegseth announces the Department will call itself the Department of War: "Maximum lethality, not tepid legality."

Addressing the largest gathering of generals and admirals in U.S. history, Hegseth says the military does not fight with "stupid rules of engagement."

Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, tells service members in a video: "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."

The Department posts on X that Kelly could be recalled to active duty for court-martial. The next day Hegseth orders the Secretary of the Navy to review him.

House Democrats file H.Res.935, a separate impeachment resolution against Hegseth over the boat strikes and the mishandling of classified information.

Three boats are struck about 400 nautical miles southwest of Ocos, Guatemala. No rescue assets are positioned. Help arrives roughly 45 hours later; all eight survivors have died.

Operation Absolute Resolve: U.S. forces assault Caracas and seize Nicolás Maduro and his wife. At least 83 killed, seven American casualties.

Hegseth issues a Secretarial Letter of Censure against Senator Kelly and threatens prosecution or reduction of his retired grade. Kelly sues a week later.

The President sends Congress a letter reporting the hostilities "consistent with the War Powers Resolution." The 60-day clock starts.

Joe Kent resigns as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, writing that Iran posed no imminent threat.

House Democrats introduce six articles of impeachment against Hegseth, including an unauthorized war against Iran.

Massie loses his Kentucky primary to Ed Gallrein, a Trump-recruited former Navy SEAL. Hegseth campaigned for Gallrein the day before the vote.

The date on which even a maximum 30-day withdrawal period would have ended. The war continues.

U.S. forces continue hostilities in Iran. The resolution dates its section 5(c) charge from here.

The House passes a further Iran war powers resolution.

Midterm elections.