Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a privileged resolution accusing the defense secretary of waging an unauthorized war in Iran and violating federal law.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a privileged resolution on Monday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing House leaders to hold a vote within two legislative days. Massie read the measure aloud on the House floor on Monday afternoon as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill for the final weeks of the Republican majority.
Fox News reported that several House Republicans privately warned the resolution could pass because of member absences and widespread frustration with Hegseth. A privileged resolution requires the House to act within two legislative days, placing a vote by Wednesday at the latest. Republican leaders can call a direct vote on the resolution, motion to table it, or seek to refer it to a committee, with either of the latter two moves effectively killing the effort.
Allegations spanning Iran, Yemen and Venezuela
According to CBS News, Massie presented eight articles of impeachment across a 34-page resolution accusing Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors. Three articles focus on the ongoing conflict with Iran, asserting that Hegseth waged war without a formal declaration or statutory approval from Congress. Massie noted that military hostilities have exceeded the limits set by federal war powers legislation, arguing the campaign has been unlawful since it began.
The resolution also targets actions outside Iran. Massie cited military strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean as extrajudicial killings, pointed to strikes in Yemen, and noted the capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Another article accuses Hegseth of retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly after the Arizona lawmaker shared a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Massie also cited an earlier strike on a school in Iran, arguing Hegseth failed to uphold laws meant to protect civilians.
Hegseth plans Pentagon briefing
Hegseth dismissed the resolution on Monday and insisted he has enough Republican backing to defeat it. “We’re not worried about that,” Hegseth said when asked by reporters about the impending vote. He announced that he will hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning to address the effort directly. BBC News reported that the briefing will mark Hegseth’s first formal news conference since May.
Hegseth previously rejected the push in a video posted on X, describing the measure as partisan theater brought by an opponent who lost his seat. Massie, who is leaving Congress at the end of the year after losing his primary, countered that his resolution is intended to press President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats assume control of Congress next year. Massie stated that a Democratic majority would launch expansive hearings and formal trials.
Midterm losses fuel Republican divisions
The push to remove the defense chief follows election results that saw Democrats win House majority control. Voters also helped Democrats win Senate control, leaving Republicans to grapple with the political fallout of losing both chambers. Members of both parties have tied the election defeats to public discontent over high fuel prices and the war with Iran, which started nearly nine months ago.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he is a “hard yes” on backing the measure, arguing that Hegseth engineered an unauthorized conflict that drove up costs for American families. Support among Republicans remains divided, as NBC News reported. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Republican voters are especially unhappy with the military campaign and noted that members have questions about the administration’s long-term strategy in Iran. Rep. French Hill said he wants to hear floor debate to assess whether Hegseth’s conduct merits impeachment rather than presidential discipline.
Procedural hurdles and historical precedent
Impeaching a Cabinet secretary remains an extraordinary rarity in the United States. Only two Cabinet members have ever been impeached by the House. In 1876, the House impeached Secretary of War William Belknap over corruption allegations, though the Senate later acquitted him. In 2024, the House impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his border policies, but the Senate dismissed those charges without conducting a trial.
The House has repeatedly passed War Powers resolutions this year with Massie’s backing in an attempt to restrict unauthorized military operations in Iran. While House Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule action on the resolution within two days, leadership has not announced whether it will attempt to table the resolution or allow members to vote directly on Hegseth’s impeachment.
