Hegseth Faces Impeachment Bid
Rep. Thomas Massie plans to reintroduce eight articles of impeachment against the Defense Secretary as soon as Monday.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces a new push for removal from his post this week. Rep. Thomas Massie intends to reintroduce a resolution to impeach the secretary as soon as Monday, November 9.
The effort comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the final day of legislative business in September. That move prevented a vote on the initial resolution before the midterm elections. Massie stated on September 16 that the articles would expire, requiring him to refile them upon the House's return.
Massie is expected to submit the same eight articles of impeachment he introduced in mid-September. The charges range from waging war without congressional consent to suppressing free speech. He has not amended the text since his last attempt.
House rules require the chamber to take up the measure within two legislative days of its introduction. This forces members to vote on the matter shortly after the session begins. Republicans currently control the House, but they suffered major losses in the 2026 midterm elections. Many GOP lawmakers have linked those defeats to the administration's handling of the Iran war.
Passage requires a simple majority in the House. Massie told ABC News that he is confident enough Republicans will defect to reach that threshold. Only three Republican votes are needed if all Democrats support the measure. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirmed his support, describing his vote as a hard yes.
Several Republican members remain undecided or opposed. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer declined to back the effort, though he noted there are questions regarding Hegseth's strategy in Iran. Rep. Don Bacon, who is retiring, said he will weigh the debate before making a decision. Bacon acknowledged that the secretary has made some bad mistakes.
Even if the House passes the resolution, the Senate must approve it by a two-thirds majority. The GOP holds control of the Senate, making that threshold difficult to reach. President Donald Trump has stated he intends to keep Hegseth in his role. The secretary posted a video on Thursday, comparing the impeachment effort to the two previous attempts against Trump. He said the measure was driven by a disgruntled, defeated congressman and his Democratic allies.
