Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces a bipartisan impeachment threat in Congress following Republican losses in the midterm elections, as lawmakers prepare to return for a lame-duck session next week.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced intentions to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth if the Pentagon chief does not resign first, Fox News Digital reported. Massie previously introduced eight articles of impeachment in September, accusing Hegseth of human rights abuses and waging war against Iran without congressional authorization, according to Stars and Stripes. Massie, who will leave office at the end of the year after losing his primary, has described Hegseth as a threat to the Constitution, the laws of war, and the integrity of U.S. diplomacy. He has stated that it would be the honorable thing to do
for President Trump to fire the secretary to avoid the impeachment process.
Trump should fire Hegseth to avoid Hegseth’s impeachment. It’s the honorable thing to do. The House recessed early to avoid the vote, so I will reintroduce Hegseth articles of impeachment when we return for the lame duck session, regardless of the outcome of the midterm election. https://t.co/LTSJknQsaS
— https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2110858427765494129
While Democrats have vowed intense oversight and investigations into the administration’s handling of the Iran war, some members of the GOP are also turning against the defense secretary. Several House Republicans told Fox News Digital that they believe an impeachment resolution could ultimately be successful. One lawmaker suggested that with a razor-thin majority, the absence of Republican members who lost re-election could provide enough votes for impeachment if Democrats remain unified. A second House Republican told Fox News Digital, If he introduces it, it'll pass.
Massie, who is set to leave office at the end of the year, stated on X that there is only one contingency under which he would not reintroduce the articles: if Hegseth resigns, Stars and Stripes reported. Massie has criticized Hegseth for persuading President Trump to join Israel in launching the Feb. 28 strikes on Iran, a conflict that has lasted more than eight months and resulted in 11 U.S. combat deaths and 12 non-hostile deaths, according to Defense Department figures cited by Stars and Stripes. Massie has alleged that Hegseth’s actions regarding the hostilities in Iran were conducted without the necessary approval from Congress.
There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns. https://t.co/fRSAIizUH8
— https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2118151572391940590
Democratic leaders have signaled they will pursue Hegseth if he remains in office when the new Congress is sworn in on January 3. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, a former U.S. Army officer, stated on November 4 that he is going after Pete Hegseth,
USA Today reported.
Incoming House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith, D-Washington, has pledged to conduct aggressive Pentagon oversight, probing the Trump administration’s war in Iran, the Pentagon’s purge of high-ranking military officers, and the use of a commercial messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations. Smith told The Seattle Times that he will focus on going after the corruption, and going after the lack of transparency,
questioning why there has been no clarity regarding the strike in Kuwait that killed six service members.
I’m going after Pete Hegseth. Not only is he incompetent and corrupt, he’s undermining our national security and the safety of our troops. pic.twitter.com/y5L91Y0Igp
— https://x.com/RepJasonCrow/status/2118065208782434618
The Intercept noted that some officials have criticized Hegseth’s management, alleging his policies have diminished the department through scandals and culture-war initiatives. Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy combat pilot, has targeted Hegseth, claiming the secretary is purging a generation of great military leaders and strangling initiative
by creating a culture of yes men and yes women. Additionally, a whistleblower named Bryant, who was removed from a Pentagon position for exposing Hegseth’s efforts to undermine civilian protections, called the secretary a “war criminal” who needs to be prosecuted. Bryant also characterized Hegseth’s failed attempt to livestream the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan as an obsession with performative violence that is a hallmark of fascist dictatorships.
Despite the political pressure, President Trump told ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on Thursday that he has every intention to keep him,
referring to Hegseth, New York Post reported.
A White House official noted that Tuesday’s election results would have looked very different without the Iran war.
However, internal pressures remain. A former White House official told Fox News Digital that “Hegseth is on the chopping block,” and a Republican close to the White House told Fox News Digital that Hegseth has been “either dishonest or incorrect” regarding goals and timelines. While Trump has defended the secretary, some Republicans, such as retiring Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have urged the president to replace him while the GOP still holds a Senate majority. Tillis told CBS News that Hegseth is one of the reasons the country lacks necessary defense funding and guarantees, stating, Pete Hegseth has a reckoning.
One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was…
— https://x.com/JDVance/status/2118004988433641835
During the election period, Hegseth also unveiled FORTRESS America,
a project designed to help U.S. military bases survive a 90-day siege.
The administration’s future defense plans face potential legislative roadblocks. Democrats have gained majorities in both chambers of Congress amid growing frustration over the war in Iran. Political analysts suggest that if a reconciliation bill is not passed during the lame-duck session, the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion defense proposal could be reduced to $1.1 trillion, according to Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who spoke to Defense One. Additionally, the administration faces scrutiny over expensive initiatives including Golden Dome, Golden Fleet, and Autonomous Warfare Command.
Leader Jeffries on launching congressional investigations: "Is Pete Hegseth still around?" pic.twitter.com/V90tYGASvk
— https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2118045141965410424
More on Pete Hegseth
Impeach Pete Hegseth https://t.co/r1DfqJ34aZ
— https://x.com/RepYassAnsari/status/2117881309133779085
Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) shares his thoughts as CBS News projects Democrat Roy Cooper to win the state's Senate seat. Asked whether he has any unfinished business before he leaves office, Tillis tells @margbrennan that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "has a… pic.twitter.com/WxaoHW3GXL
— https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2117832698592981498
Trump told me this morning he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary: “I have every intention to keep him.” Trump acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with Hegseth, but said, “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don't understand why.” He also…
— https://x.com/jonkarl/status/2118320684942168364
If the administration decides to cut lose Pete Hegseth, there are some reasonable choices to come in behind him: Sen Joni Ernst, fmr Mich. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, UN Amb Mike Waltz, or Mike Pompeo come to mind. https://t.co/Zs5sKr4b75
— https://x.com/stavridisj/status/2118331004175651093
US lawmakers are looking to impeach embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as soon as next week, an effort that’s gained momentum after the Iran war he championed partly led to Republicans losing control of Congress in the midterms. https://t.co/G4dmvfF7z4
— https://x.com/GregDaco/status/2118492657605599604
GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy says a War Powers Act could pass and that if Hegseth is impeached, "Well, I have to hear the testimony." "There are people who I respect who feel that he's done a very poor job. And if he's the one that gave the president the guidance that would be out of… pic.twitter.com/hUqShlJ3Ai
— https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2118532522267066394