Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced eight articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, seeking House action during the final weeks of Republican control of Congress.
Massie’s resolution accuses Hegseth of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” through his handling of the Iran war, military operations in Yemen and the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and the Pentagon’s scrutiny of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). The Kentucky Republican introduced the articles as a privileged resolution, requiring House leaders to bring the measure up for action within two legislative days.
The move revives an effort Massie first launched in September, when he accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and violating the Constitution through military operations ordered by President Donald Trump. House Republican leaders adjourned before the chamber could vote, delaying the confrontation until after the midterm elections.
Massie, who lost his primary earlier this year to Trump-backed challenger —and eventual general election winner— Ed Gallrein, is leaving Congress in January. His impeachment effort represents one of his final major confrontations with an administration he has repeatedly challenged.
Three focus on the Iran war, accusing Hegseth of waging military operations without congressional authorization, defying congressional directives, and continuing hostilities in violation of the War Powers Resolution. Another accuses him of failing to take sufficient steps to minimize civilian casualties, citing a strike on an Iranian school.
The remaining articles target U.S. strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, the operation that captured Maduro, the administration’s military campaign in Yemen, and Hegseth’s treatment of Kelly after the Arizona senator participated in a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
“Wherefore, Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” the articles state.
“The question is whether he committed impeachable acts,” Massie wrote on X. “And the answer is yes, eight times.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Sunday that he is a “hard yes” on the measure.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is retiring, said he was still wrestling with how to vote. Bacon criticized Hegseth’s decision to remove or sideline dozens of senior military officers, but said he did not believe poor performance alone justified impeachment.
“I don’t think he’s been a good secretary, but do you impeach a guy for that? It has to be a high crime or misdemeanor,” Bacon said Monday, according to CBS.
Hegseth has dismissed the impeachment push as political theater. In a video posted last week, he called the articles a “sham” brought by a “disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democratic allies.”
Asked Monday whether he had enough Republican support to defeat the effort, Hegseth responded, “We’re not worried about that.” He said he planned to hold a news conference Tuesday to address the impeachment push.
Trump has also expressed confidence in his Secretary of War, telling reporters last week that Hegseth was doing “a very good job.”
If the House approves the articles, Hegseth would become only the third Cabinet secretary in American history to be impeached. Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached in 1876 amid corruption allegations, while Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the Republican-controlled House in 2024 over the Biden administration’s border policies. Belknap was acquitted by the Senate, while the Senate dismissed the charges against Mayorkas.
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