Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) escalated his long-running feud with the Trump administration on Tuesday, introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the Pentagon's military actions in Iran.
Massie, who has repeatedly challenged the president's foreign policy, accused Hegseth of initiating an illegal war without congressional approval. The Kentucky Republican filed the measure as a privileged resolution, a procedural move that forces the House to consider it within two legislative days.
In his resolution, Massie charged that Hegseth committed "high crimes and misdemeanors" by violating his oath to uphold the Constitution and failing to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed," particularly regarding the war power. He also alleged that the defense secretary "abused the powers of the Department of Defense."
The move is largely symbolic, as the Republican-controlled House is unlikely to take up the measure, and even if it did, conviction in the Senate is a remote possibility. Massie, who lost his primary in May to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, has been a vocal critic of the administration's Iran policy and has previously introduced war powers resolutions to curb military engagement.
The House has already passed two war powers resolutions, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats to rein in the president's authority. Under the War Powers Resolution, the president must end unauthorized military action within 60 days unless Congress declares war or approves the operation, with an additional 30 days for safe troop withdrawal.
Massie's decision to make the resolution privileged ensures it will be brought to the floor, but it is expected to fail or be tabled. The move highlights the growing unease among some lawmakers about the administration's approach to Iran, even as Trump and Hegseth have framed the conflict as part of the post-9/11 fight.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to requests for comment. This comes as GOP unease over Hegseth's leadership grows, and former Air Force chiefs have criticized his politicization of the military.
The impeachment effort is the latest in a series of confrontations between Massie and the administration, though it is unlikely to gain traction in the current political climate.
