Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on November 9, 2026, forcing a House vote in the lame-duck session after Democrats reclaimed majorities in the midterms.
Massie, a longtime non-interventionist critic of the administration who lost his May primary to a Trump-backed challenger and is retiring at year’s end, read the 34-page privileged resolution on the House floor. The articles primarily accuse Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution by waging and continuing the Iran war without a declaration of war, statutory authorization, or imminent threat; ignoring congressional directives to withdraw; and exceeding the 60-day limit. Other charges include failing to minimize civilian casualties (citing a strike on a school in Minab, Iran, that killed over 100 children), overseeing extrajudicial killings in Caribbean and Pacific boat strikes against suspected drug traffickers, suppressing free speech by targeting Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) after he urged troops to refuse illegal orders, involvement in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and an unauthorized campaign in Yemen.
Massie first filed similar articles in September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson recessed the chamber before a vote. The current privileged motion requires action within two legislative days, setting up a procedural fight or floor vote as early as this week. Massie has argued that other remedies were exhausted and that Hegseth remains a threat to the Constitution; he has predicted Hegseth is unlikely to remain in office through the end of 2026, noting that Democrats will control Congress in January and pursue stronger proceedings.
President Trump responded forcefully in defense of Hegseth. He called Massie a “stone-cold loser,” a “total loser,” and a “disgruntled, angry, defeated former Congressman” with “a lot of hatred in his heart,” while vowing to stand by Hegseth if impeached. Trump described Hegseth as “guilty of two things, basically winning two wars” (referring to operations involving Iran and Venezuela) and urged Congress to “stand up for Pete.” After Hegseth’s Tuesday remarks, Trump awarded him an “‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS” for his defense against Massie.
Hegseth, in a rare Pentagon press conference on November 10 (his first in months), dismissed the effort as a “farce,” “stunt,” and “political spectacle” driven by “ego and resentment” from “one disgruntled and defeated congressman.” He framed the charges as policy disagreements rather than high crimes or misdemeanors, compared them to the failed impeachments of Trump, and argued that impeaching him for “successful” lawful operations would amount to “sabotage,” embolden adversaries, and put a target on American service members. He stood by the operations and said he would execute them again.
The resolution is unlikely to lead to conviction, which would require a two-thirds Senate vote, but it highlights internal Republican tensions over the Iran war and Hegseth’s tenure in the wake of midterm losses.
SOURCES:
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war – CBS News
Thomas Massie says Hegseth will not make it to 2027 after introducing impeachment articles | The Independent
Trump Urges Republicans to Fight Hegseth Impeachment Push
Pete Hegseth decries impeachment push, defends Iran war handling
Republican Thomas Massie moves to force vote to impeach Pete Hegseth | Pete Hegseth | The Guardian
Massie tells RS why he went after Hegseth and not Trump | Responsible Statecraft
Pete Hegseth impeachment articles introduced by Rep. Massie
