Nancy Lacore, a retired three-star Navy admiral whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed last year, has thrown her support behind the effort to impeach him. Her announcement comes just days after she won South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, adding a prominent military voice to a growing list of lawmakers—both incoming and incumbent—calling for Hegseth’s removal.
In an interview Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Lacore did not mince words. “Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified secretary that this nation has seen,” she said. She went on to accuse him of inflicting “significant damage” on the country, jeopardizing national security, and undermining the readiness of the armed forces.
Lacore’s victory last week positions her to take office in January, but she suggested the impeachment process may unfold before she is sworn in. “It’s all part of … the problem with the corruption and the lack of strategy, which is doing nothing but really driving up costs for people,” she said, referring to the Pentagon’s approach to Iran. She characterized that conflict as “extremely damaging to our country.”
On Monday, outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) forced a House vote later this week on removing Hegseth under eight articles of impeachment. The resolution accuses the defense secretary of abusing his powers in connection with several military operations during the second Trump administration, including the war in Iran. Massie, who is leaving office, has been pushing for Hegseth’s impeachment for some time and is determined to see the process through during the lame-duck session.
After reports surfaced about his plan to force a vote, Massie wrote on social media that his impeachment resolution is “a much gentler version of what’s coming when Dem’s control Congress. They’ll have hearings & trials.” Hegseth fired back in a video on X, calling Massie “a disgruntled, defeated congressman” and dismissing the articles as “sham.”
President Trump has publicly stood by Hegseth. In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Trump expressed confidence in his defense secretary. Following Massie’s introduction of the impeachment articles, the president posted on Truth Social, giving Hegseth an “A” plus for his work at the Pentagon and labeling Massie “a TOTAL LOSER.”
The impeachment push has also exposed divisions within the GOP. Some Republicans, like Rep. Don Bacon, have signaled they will oppose the effort, while others, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have condemned the move as “shameful.” Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance has framed the impeachment bid as a matter of Pentagon reform, not just the Iran conflict.
Lacore’s entry into the fray adds a new dimension. As a former high-ranking military officer, her critique carries weight, especially as she prepares to join a Congress that will likely grapple with the fallout from the impeachment proceedings. Her stance could influence other lawmakers, particularly those with military backgrounds or defense expertise.
For now, the focus remains on the upcoming House vote. Whether Massie’s effort succeeds or fails, the debate over Hegseth’s leadership and the administration’s military strategy is far from over. With Lacore set to take office in January, the issue is poised to remain a flashpoint in the new Congress.
