Republican launches impeachment against US defense chief
Republican Representative Thomas Massie has launched a bid to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, introducing eight articles on the House floor.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie launched an extraordinary bid on Monday, 9 November 2026, to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, triggering a mandatory congressional vote following a crushing midterm election defeat for the ruling party.
Massie, a conservative lawmaker from Kentucky, formally introduced eight articles of impeachment on the House floor. The resolution accuses Hegseth of violating the US Constitution by waging an unauthorized war in Iran lasting more than 90 days without congressional approval. Additional charges cite the 1973 War Powers Resolution, extrajudicial killings tied to boat strikes in the Caribbean, suppressing free speech by targeting veteran Senator Mark Kelly, and civilian casualties alongside military actions in Yemen and the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
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The push places immense pressure on congressional Republicans, who lost control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, as reported by CNBC TV18. Because impeachment resolutions are privileged, House leaders must bring the measure to the floor within two legislative days. As detailed by ABC7 Bay Area, the chamber could vote as early as Wednesday, forcing outgoing Republicans to go on the record.
President Donald Trump immediately rallied behind his Pentagon chief, declaring on Monday that he stood by Hegseth regardless of the impeachment proceedings, according to Jacarandafm. Trump defended the defense secretary by asserting that he had "won two wars" and boosted military recruitment. Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Trump stated he had "every intention" of keeping Hegseth in his post.
House Speaker Mike Johnson strongly opposed the resolution, warning that proceedings against a Cabinet secretary during active hostilities abroad sends a terrible signal to allies and adversaries alike, according to MPR News. Other Republicans voiced varied grievances; Representative Don Bacon argued that Hegseth deserved impeachment for withholding aid to Ukraine and sidelining senior military officers, while declining to endorse Massie’s specific reasoning.
Democratic leaders seized upon the administration's vulnerability. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared himself a "hard yes" on the resolution, telling ABC News that Hegseth abused his power and engineered a reckless war of choice.
Hegseth dismissed the move as a sham orchestrated by a disgruntled, defeated congressman. In a video statement, the defense secretary maintained that critics were attacking him because his leadership was effective. He scheduled a rare press conference at the Pentagon to address the allegations directly.
| Chamber | Current Control | Vote Needed to Impeach / Pass | Vote Needed to Convict / Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Republican (218 to 214) | Simple Majority | N/A |
| Senate | Republican | N/A | Two-Thirds Majority (67 votes) |
Constitutional hurdles make removal exceptionally difficult. Only two Cabinet secretaries have been impeached in United States history, and neither was convicted by the Senate. While Massie needs only a simple majority in the House — meaning as few as three Republican defections alongside united Democrats could pass the articles — any trial would move to the Senate. Conviction requires a two-thirds supermajority.
What to watch next
- The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider Massie's privileged resolution within the mandatory two legislative-day window, potentially forcing a floor vote by Wednesday.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to hold a high-profile press briefing at the Pentagon to answer the eight articles of impeachment.
- Lawmakers and administration officials will monitor whether sufficient Republican defections materialise to pass the resolution before the new congressional term begins in January.
