Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie has introduced eight articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of waging an unauthorized war in Iran and abusing his authority. Massie utilized a special congressional procedure to force a potential House vote as early as Wednesday, alleging that Hegseth violated the 1973 War Powers Resolution and engaged in misconduct regarding operations in Yemen and Venezuela. The Pentagon has rejected these accusations, and President Donald Trump has publicly stated his intention to retain the defense chief.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries has announced his support for the impeachment effort, citing concerns over national security and the conduct of the war. While some Republicans have expressed dissatisfaction with Hegseth’s leadership, including criticism regarding withheld aid to Ukraine and military personnel management, others remain undecided. The impeachment push follows significant Republican losses in the recent midterm elections, which have weakened party discipline within the House.
If the House approves the articles by a simple majority, the process would move to the Senate for a trial. Conviction and removal from office would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, a threshold that remains difficult to reach even with the upcoming shift in chamber control. Hegseth has dismissed the impeachment effort as a sham, and he is scheduled to hold a press briefing on Tuesday.
