Hegseth faces imminent impeachment vote

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may face an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives as early as next week.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, said he will definitely reintroduce articles of impeachment when lawmakers return to Washington. Massie, who has frequently criticized President Donald Trump, previously sought to remove Hegseth for waging the Iran war without congressional approval. He noted that his current resolution serves as a gentler alternative to what he predicts will happen when Democrats take control of Congress in January, a period he expects will bring formal hearings and trials.

The push for impeachment has gained momentum after the Iran war, which Hegseth championed, contributed to Republicans losing control of Congress in the midterms. Hegseth posted a six minute video on X on Thursday to defend his tenure. In the post, he described Massie as a disgruntled and defeated congressman and called the filed articles of impeachment a sham. Hegseth also noted that he likely faces opposition because of his crackdown on Pentagon diversity initiatives.

President Trump publicly defended the Secretary on Thursday, telling reporters that Hegseth had done a fantastic job. Trump said he probably has opposition due to the diversity initiatives but maintained that he has no plans to oust Hegseth. Hegseth, a former National Guardsman and Fox News host, has faced criticism since his nomination. Lawmakers argued he was unqualified to lead the military, and he was narrowly confirmed. Trump has consistently backed him publicly, but the Secretary's prominent role in the unpopular Iran conflict has left him politically exposed.

The impeachment process in the House would force the Senate to begin a time consuming trial unless Republicans muster enough votes to set the matter aside. Such a vote would put lawmakers on record supporting the secretary shortly after voters rebuked the GOP over the war. Massie's bid is expected to receive widespread Democratic support and possibly enough Republican support to pass. Republicans who lost their seats in this week's election may have no incentive to return to Washington during the lame duck session, which would increase the number of members likely to support impeachment.

Hegseth's relationship with Congress deteriorated during the war following combative hearings. Oversight committees accused him of refusing to share information, including data on the costs of the conflict. Vice President JD Vance blamed the Republicans' midterm loss squarely on the conflict. In a social media post on Wednesday, Vance stated that the reason the party lost was the war and challenged critics to argue if losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it. Hegseth now has few allies in the legislative branch, and his role in the conflict has become a liability for his political survival.