Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced an impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, seeking to force a House vote over the Trump administration’s military actions in Iran and other countries. The effort comes as Republicans face sweeping election losses that have been partly attributed to public reaction to the Iran war.
Massie read the resolution on the House floor during the first day of sessions after the midterm elections. The measure centers largely on the war in Iran, while also referring to Hegseth’s role in military operations involving Yemen and Venezuela. Massie said the defense secretary’s actions amounted to “high crimes and misdemeanors,” accusing him of knowingly carrying out unlawful orders and saying he remained a threat to the Constitution.
President Donald Trump attacked Massie after the resolution was introduced, calling the congressman a “loser” and accusing him of harboring hatred. Massie, a Republican, was defeated earlier this year in a primary by a challenger backed by Trump.
A House vote could take place by the middle of the week, though its timing and outcome remain uncertain. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries supports the resolution. If most Democrats vote for it, Massie would need only a small number of Republican votes for the House to impeach Hegseth.
Impeachment by the House would not by itself remove the defense secretary from office. The matter would move to the Senate, which could dismiss the charges or conduct a trial. Republicans still hold majorities in both chambers, but the account says that will change when the new Congress convenes in January, with Democrats taking control.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed the effort, saying Hegseth should stand trial in the Senate. Republican leaders, however, criticized the timing and raised concerns about pursuing impeachment while military operations abroad were continuing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had sought to prevent a vote, said impeachment during active hostilities would send a damaging message to allies and adversaries. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was unsure why the House was holding the vote at this point and said the Senate would respond to the House’s eventual decision.
Hegseth has begun publicly defending the administration’s military actions. After speaking at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, he dismissed the impeachment effort as politically motivated and said critics were objecting to the administration’s success. He said he was willing to debate the military operations, including those targeting Iran, the Houthi movement in Yemen and Venezuela’s previous leaders.
Asked about Vice President JD Vance’s suggestion that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses, Hegseth pointed to Trump’s statement that he would take the same action again and said he agreed. He also announced plans to hold a news conference on Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days, to address the impeachment threat.
Hegseth has argued that military action against Iran was necessary to confront what he described as the Iranian government’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a level below the 90% enrichment typically associated with weapons-grade uranium.
The conflict’s consequences have become part of the domestic political debate. Hegseth has said Iran is “devastated,” while the account notes that the country has continued striking military bases used by the United States in the region and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks and disruption in the waterway have contributed to higher energy prices. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passed through the strait.
Public opinion has also weighed on the administration’s defense of the campaign. About six in ten voters said the United States made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran, according to the AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 100,000 voters.
Trump defended Hegseth, praising him for what he called a U.S. victory in Venezuela and saying the United States was winning in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also backed the defense secretary, saying he believed Hegseth was doing a good job and worked hard. Rubio said his direct experience working with Hegseth gave him a view of the secretary that members of Congress and the media might not share.
The House debate now hinges on whether Massie can attract support beyond Democrats. If the resolution passes, senators would decide whether to dismiss the charges or proceed to trial. With the conflict continuing and party control of Congress expected to shift in January, the impeachment push has become both a test of support for Hegseth and a broader dispute over the administration’s military policy.
