Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, compelling House Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a floor vote within two days. The resolution cites unauthorized attacks on Iran and Yemen, the killing of more than 100 children at an Iranian school, and extrajudicial killings of suspected drug boat crews in the Caribbean. It also alleges that Hegseth’s investigation of Senator Mark Kelly violated the First Amendment and that the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was illegal. Massie first filed these charges on September 15, but Johnson recessed Congress before they could be heard. Now, with Republicans losing control of both chambers in last week’s midterms, Massie is pressing for immediate action. He argues that removing Hegseth now prevents a "Democrat spectacle" next year when Democrats hold both houses.
A Slim Majority Faces the Vote
The House must vote by Wednesday, though it may instead refer the measure to committee or set it aside. Peter Loge, a public affairs professor at George Washington University, told the BBC that the measure is "likely to pass the House because the Republican majority is so slim." Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat expected to become speaker in January, declared he is a "hard yes" on impeachment. Jeffries told ABC News that "Hegseth has got to go," noting that Democrats will hold hearings and trials once they assume control. Massie claims his effort is a "much gentler version" of what awaits the administration. However, winning over enough Republican members remains the central hurdle for this rare cabinet removal attempt.
Political Backlash and Legal Questions
Hegseth responded to the threat with a video released Thursday, describing the impeachment as "all about the politics of personal destruction." He insisted that the political maneuvering "won’t work with me." Watchdogs Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argued that this video violates the Hatch Act, which bars using government funds for partisan political purposes. Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and other Republican leaders attributed the historic midterm losses to the Iran war and its economic impact on conservative voters. Hegseth spent Monday at the Naval War College announcing changes to military education designed to enable officers to wage war with devastating speed. Yet, the failure to deliver victory has placed a target on his back. The Senate would conduct a trial after any House vote, but history shows the chamber rarely agrees with the lower house on cabinet impeachments.
