House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is treading carefully on the question of impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, offering blistering criticism of the Pentagon chief while stopping short of endorsing his removal through that process.
Jeffries's cautious stance underscores the delicate political calculus facing Democratic leaders as they navigate a caucus with competing priorities, especially with the midterm elections just days away and control of the House hanging in the balance.
The New York Democrat, who could become Speaker if his party wins the majority, is trying to satisfy a liberal base that has accused Democratic leadership of being too timid in confronting the Trump administration. At the same time, he wants to avoid handing President Trump ammunition to claim a Democratic House would be consumed by partisan vendettas—a message that could sway moderate voters.
Speaking at a campaign rally in New York over the weekend, Jeffries vowed that a Democratic majority would “run Pete Hegseth out of town.” But when pressed by reporters afterward, he declined to specify whether that meant backing impeachment.
“It means that we’re going to hold him accountable in the same way that we held [former Attorney General] Pam Bondi and [former Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi Noem accountable,” Jeffries said, according to MS NOW. “And Pete Hegseth needs to be pushed aside by the president, or we’re going to have to deal with that situation if he is not.”
The comparison is telling: Bondi and Noem were both removed by Trump, not by Congress, after falling out of favor with the president. That suggests Jeffries may prefer a political solution over a formal impeachment, which would be unlikely to succeed in the Senate anyway.
One House Democrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jeffries is likely waiting to see how a Republican-led impeachment push plays out. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, including several related to the Iran war. Massie used a procedural maneuver to force a floor vote, which Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has tried to delay until after the elections. That vote is expected to occur soon after lawmakers return.
“I think if there’s an opportunity to be bipartisan, we’re always going to look for that opportunity. I know he [Jeffries] always looks for that opportunity. So, I think we don’t want to take the pressure off,” the lawmaker said, adding that more Republicans may be willing to criticize Hegseth after the midterms.
Some Republicans, however, are skeptical of Massie’s effort. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force brigadier general who is not seeking reelection, said he is “a little leery” of voting for impeachment. “I felt like we’ve been at war with Iran for 47 years. At what point do we not fight back on a country that’s been killing Americans like they’ve done?” Bacon said. “I also know the Senate will not pass this. So what are we going to do? We’re going to take up the rest of the four weeks’ bandwidth to do an impeachment that the Senate won’t vote for.”
Other Democrats are more direct. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has endorsed Massie’s effort, saying in a statement that “a top priority should be accountability for Hegseth’s illegal actions in the Caribbean, for the illegal bombings in Iran, and for the illegal firing of generals.”
Hegseth has defended his plan to cut 20 percent of admirals and generals, calling the military “rank-heavy” and out of touch with troops. He has also faced criticism for firing senior officers and for alleged lack of transparency regarding the Iran war.
Jeffries's balancing act may become untenable once the House votes on Massie's articles. If Democrats win the majority, Jeffries will need 218 votes to become Speaker in January, and his position on Hegseth could influence both progressive and moderate support. The post-election showdown over Hegseth's fate and Pentagon funding is likely to test his leadership.
