​Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, November 9, 2026, forcing a high-stakes congressional vote following the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections.
​The 34-page resolution filed on Capitol Hill contains eight articles of impeachment, accusing Hegseth of abusing defense powers and illegally waging military hostilities in Iran for over 90 days without congressional authorisation. Under House rules, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson must schedule a vote on the privileged resolution within two legislative days.
​The impeachment effort comes directly on the heels of the 2026 midterm elections, in which Democrats won back control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Political analysts and key Republican figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have largely attributed the election losses to widespread public dissatisfaction over the ongoing war in Iran and rising energy prices.
​Massie, a vocal Republican critic of the war, emphasized that his motion is designed to prompt President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats assume control of Congress next year.
​”My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what’s coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year,” Massie stated on Monday. “President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate.”
​In response to the resolution, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a video message on X on Monday calling the motion a political maneuver.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “A disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice. You see, their policies don’t work, so their obsession with political theater disguised as power drives them to try to destroy their opponents.”
Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell: “Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists. The Department of War has followed the law, and our Secretary will continue to stand and fight every single day to support and defend the Constitution.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): Stated that Democrats would be a “hard yes” on impeaching Hegseth, accusing him of overstepping war powers and ignoring congressional oversight.
​With House leadership now required to bring the motion to the floor this week, lawmakers in both parties face a contentious vote over the administration’s military strategy in Iran.
