Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said Tuesday he will vote against adopting articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dealing a blow to the push led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) ahead of the afternoon House vote.
Bacon, who is not seeking reelection in 2026, told reporters he has his own grievances with Hegseth that aren't included in the impeachment articles, but he doesn't support the resolution as written.
“I don’t really align with the impeachment itself,” Bacon said. “If we talk about firing 80 generals and not spending appropriated money, I’d feel a little differently about it.”
“I have separate complaints about the secretary that’s not in the impeachment,” he added.
Massie introduced the impeachment articles Monday, accusing Hegseth of violating the Constitution by conducting military operations against Iran without congressional authorization. The articles also charge Hegseth with ordering strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for advising servicemembers not to follow unlawful orders.
Hegseth dismissed the effort during a Pentagon news conference Tuesday morning, calling Massie a “disgruntled and defeated congressman” and labeling the impeachment “a political spectacle.” Massie lost his primary earlier this year to a Trump-backed challenger.
With Republicans holding the House until January, the impeachment resolution would need at least a few GOP votes to pass. Bacon, a retiring member who has occasionally criticized the Trump administration, is seen as a pivotal vote. Another retiring Republican, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), also said she would not back impeachment, despite her sharp criticism of the Iran war.
“I will not be voting to impeach,” Mace wrote on X. “The Iran war is through no fault of his own and he should not be the one scapegoated for it. I fully support the changes Hegseth has made to the [Defense Department] to make our fighting force the very best it can be.”
Bacon cited a desire for U.S. success in the Iran conflict as a key reason for his opposition. “I want us to win in Iran,” Bacon said. “Iran’s been killing us for 47 years. I have a different perspective than Massie on this.”
The impeachment vote comes as leadership races heat up and amid a broader Pentagon briefing that drew attention. Even if the resolution fails, Democrats could easily move to impeach Hegseth once their sizable majority is sworn in on Jan. 3. If the House impeaches, a two-thirds Senate vote would be required to convict and remove him.
