Hegseth Impeachment Vote Looms as House Reconvenes After Midterm Losses

POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may face a House vote on articles of impeachment as early as this week, driven by bipartisan frustration with his management of the conflict in Iran.

Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill on Monday to conclude the final weeks of the GOP-controlled Congress, forcing Republican leadership to potentially bring an impeachment resolution to a floor vote within days.

The move toward impeachment began well before recent midterm election results, during which voters expressed concern over the War in Iran and its effect on the cost of living.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican who has frequently split with the administration, introduced initial articles of impeachment against the defense secretary in September.

At the time, House GOP leaders recessed the chamber early, delaying a vote on the measure until November.

Massie is expected to introduce a refreshed set of articles on Monday to satisfy parliamentary rules, triggering a two-day timeline for GOP leadership to set a floor vote.

The 34-page resolution presents eight charges, alleging that Hegseth committed high crimes and misdemeanors by abusing his powers within the Department of Defense.

Three of the articles state that the secretary waged war against Iran without authorization from Congress.

Massie also accused Hegseth of disregarding laws designed to limit civilian deaths, specifically pointing to a recent strike on an Iranian school earlier this year.

Additional articles criticize the Pentagon’s boat strikes in the Caribbean and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

One article also targets free speech, citing the Pentagon’s investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly following a video calling on military personnel to refuse illegal orders.

Massie argued that Hegseth remains a threat to the Constitution and has acted in ways grossly inconsistent with his duties and the rule of law.

The resolution demands that Hegseth be tried, removed from his post, and barred from holding any future office of honor, trust, or profit in the United States.

Hegseth has openly dismissed the impeachment push, labeling Massie a disgruntled and defeated politician who is partnering with his adversaries.

In a video posted to social media last week, Hegseth stated that they are attempting the same political theater used against the president twice before, arguing that it will not succeed with him.

Whether other Republicans will join the effort remains unclear, though some appear more willing to criticize the defense secretary following their party’s significant midterm losses.

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, stated on News Nation that there are numerous questions regarding Hegseth’s actions and that no one is satisfied with the current situation in Iran.

Comer suggested that Republican voters are more upset about the Iran situation than their Democratic counterparts, adding that the future strategy in the country is currently undefined.

Rep. French Hill of Arkansas is still deliberating his position on the impeachment, saying on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan that he wants to hear the full debate to determine if the situation warrants impeachment or another form of disciplinary action.

Hill noted that if a person is performing poorly in their role, it does not automatically mean they have committed an impeachable offense.

Democrats are broadly expected to support the impeachment, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirming on ABC’s This Week that his answer is a hard yes.

However, because the GOP holds a slim majority, support from some Republicans is necessary to pass the resolution.

Massie posted on social media on Monday that he has heard some colleagues view Hegseth as effective and opposed to the war, predicting they will vote against impeachment.

Massie countered that the question is not about policy effectiveness, but rather whether hegseth committed impeachable acts, to which he added the answer is yes, occurring eight times.

If impeached, Hegseth would become the third cabinet secretary in U.S. history to face such proceedings.

Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached in 1876 over corruption charges and was eventually acquitted by the Senate.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the GOP-led House in 2024 over border management issues, though the charges were later dismissed.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)