That Lloyd James Austin III, Secretary of Defense, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate: Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, against Lloyd James Austin III, Secretary of Defense, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors. Article I: Dereliction of Duty Including and Resulting in Abandonment of Americans in Afghanistan The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall have the sole Power of Impeachment and that all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors . In his conduct while Secretary of Defense, and in violation of his constitutional oath to defend and secure our country and uphold the Constitution, taken on January 22, 2021, Lloyd James Austin III engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors through his dereliction of his duties and intentional abandonment of Americans in Afghanistan, in that: Secretary Austin took an oath to defend and secure our country and uphold the Constitution when he was sworn in as Secretary of Defense on January 22, 2021. Article II of the United States Constitution tasks the executive branch with ensuring the laws passed by Congress and signed into law by the President are faithfully executed. Despite having nearly 8 months as Secretary of Defense to prepare for and execute a smooth and orderly departure from Afghanistan, Secretary Austin failed to adequately prepare for such a withdrawal, including through his decisions during the catastrophic events of July and August 2021, which initially resulted in as many as 9,000 American citizens being abandoned in Afghanistan. These actions recklessly abandoned the interests, security, and values of the United States of America, and