Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has formally triggered a House vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting up a high-stakes showdown later this week over the Pentagon chief’s conduct in the Iran War. Massie introduced his resolution on Monday, the first day Congress returned to Washington, marking his second attempt in two months to remove Hegseth from office.
The first effort was derailed when House GOP leaders sent lawmakers home early for the pre-midterm recess, sidestepping a vote that could have put vulnerable Republicans in a bind. But the midterm elections have reshuffled the political calculus. Dozens of GOP incumbents who lost their seats are now free to vote their conscience without fear of retribution from former President Trump or his base.
Massie’s resolution accuses Hegseth of executing “unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation” without congressional authorization, an imminent threat, or a national emergency. “Secretary Hegseth has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as Secretary of Defense and subversive of constitutional government,” Massie said on the House floor. The articles also cite the extrajudicial killing of alleged drug smugglers in international waters.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who stayed neutral before the elections, has now thrown his full support behind the measure, giving it significant momentum. Democrats are expected to back the resolution overwhelmingly. Jeffries’ shift comes as Democrats prepare for a new majority and weigh how to confront the administration’s foreign policy, as outlined in their plans to check the White House.
Some Republicans are also signaling openness. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a frequent Hegseth critic, suggested he is ready to support impeachment. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), a Trump ally, told NewsNation that voters are upset about the Iran War and that “there’s a lot of questions about Hegseth.” Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) said he wants to hear the debate before deciding, but did not rule out impeachment.
However, Hegseth retains defenders. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, called Massie a “self-aggrandizing twit” and the effort “pathetic,” praising Hegseth for boosting military morale and recruiting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also backed Hegseth, saying he has done a “great job.”
The vote will test whether Hegseth’s controversies—including his handling of the Iran War and his stewardship of the Pentagon—have eroded his support enough to make him the first Cabinet secretary impeached in decades. With Republicans still controlling the chamber, the outcome is uncertain, but the political ground is shifting. As the new Congress takes shape, the impeachment fight is only one of several battles ahead, including a looming leadership scramble and a government funding deadline.
Hegseth has also faced scrutiny over his overhaul of military education, a move that critics see as politicizing the officer corps. That controversy, detailed in his recent changes to military education, has added to the pressure. As the House prepares to vote, all eyes are on whether enough Republicans will join Democrats to hold Hegseth accountable.
