Republican Moves to Impeach Trump’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth Over Iran War

A Republican lawmaker has launched an effort to impeach United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of abusing his office and overseeing military operations that were carried out without proper approval from Congress.

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced eight articles of impeachment on Monday, November 9, placing Hegseth at the centre of a growing political dispute over President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran.

The move is expected to force the House of Representatives to consider the charges within days, although the outcome remains uncertain.

The resolution alleges that Hegseth committed high crimes and misdemeanours through his role in the Iran conflict and other military actions. Massie argues that the administration continued deploying American forces without the authorisation required from Congress and that the defence secretary failed to respect constitutional limits on military power.

The Republican congressman has maintained that the issue is not simply whether lawmakers support the war, but whether Hegseth committed acts serious enough to justify impeachment.

Iran War at the Centre of Impeachment Allegations

The main focus of Massie’s case is the United States military campaign against Iran. The congressman argues that the Trump administration launched and continued the conflict without a declaration of war or specific congressional authorisation.

The articles also accuse Hegseth of disregarding the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a law intended to limit the president’s ability to keep American forces involved in hostilities without congressional approval.

Massie contends that the Pentagon continued military operations despite lawmakers demanding an end to the campaign.

The resolution raises concerns about civilian casualties, including a strike on an Iranian school earlier in the conflict. It argues that the incident exposed serious weaknesses in the military’s targeting and decision-making procedures.

Massie’s articles also refer to other military actions, including operations in Yemen and Venezuela, as well as the Pentagon’s treatment of Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.

Kelly, a former Navy pilot, was among lawmakers who urged members of the armed forces not to obey unlawful orders. Hegseth subsequently accused Kelly and other lawmakers involved in the message of encouraging insubordination.

The impeachment resolution presents these matters as examples of what Massie describes as an abuse of the authority attached to the defence secretary’s office.

Hegseth and the Pentagon have rejected the accusations.

House Vote Could Come This Week

Massie is using a parliamentary procedure that could require the House to consider the resolution within two legislative days.

That places pressure on Republican leaders, who may allow a vote or attempt to stop the measure through procedural steps, including referring it to a committee or moving to table it.

The House remains under Republican control until the newly elected members take office in January. A simple majority is required to impeach Hegseth, meaning the resolution would need support beyond the Democratic caucus if all Democrats back it.

Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already indicated that he supports the effort.

Jeffries described himself as firmly in favour of the resolution, arguing that Hegseth had abused his authority and that the Iran war had been costly and reckless.

Republican support, however, is not guaranteed.

Some members have raised questions about Hegseth’s leadership and the administration’s strategy in Iran but have stopped short of committing to impeachment.

Representative French Hill of Arkansas said he wanted to hear the arguments before deciding whether the allegations amounted to impeachable conduct or called for another form of action.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has also acknowledged that there are questions surrounding Hegseth, particularly the administration’s plans for the conflict, without endorsing Massie’s proposal.

The political atmosphere has become more difficult for the administration following the Republicans’ heavy losses in the midterm elections.

The war in Iran and its impact on fuel prices and household costs have become major sources of voter frustration. The results have also intensified divisions within the Republican Party over Trump’s foreign policy.

Hegseth Dismisses Impeachment Effort

Hegseth has brushed aside the threat, describing the effort as political noise and insisting that he is not worried about whether enough Republicans will oppose it.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said he was prepared to defend his record. He has also portrayed the impeachment push as an attempt by political opponents to damage his reputation rather than a serious effort to address misconduct.

The defence secretary is expected to hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday. It will be his first such briefing at the department in more than 180 days, giving him an opportunity to respond publicly to the allegations and explain the administration’s position on the war.

Trump has also stood firmly behind his defence secretary.

The president has questioned why Hegseth should face impeachment, arguing that the administration has achieved victories in its military campaigns. He has previously said he intends to keep Hegseth in the role.

The president’s support could help the secretary withstand pressure from within the Republican Party. However, the impeachment effort may expose further disagreements among lawmakers about the legal basis for the Iran war and the extent of Congress’s authority over military action.

Impeachment Does Not Mean Immediate Removal

Even if the House approves the articles, Hegseth would not automatically lose his position.

Impeachment is the formal process through which the House brings charges against a federal official. The matter would then move to the Senate, where members would conduct a trial and decide whether he should be convicted and removed from office.

A two-thirds majority of senators present is required for conviction, a much higher threshold than the simple majority needed in the House.

The Senate’s political balance is also expected to change when the newly elected members take office in January. Democrats are set to gain control, but they would still need support from a significant number of Republicans to reach the constitutional threshold.

The case would be unusual. Only a small number of Cabinet secretaries have faced impeachment in American history.

Previous cases include Secretary of War William Belknap, who was impeached in 1876, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by the House in 2024. Neither was removed by the Senate.

For Massie, the immediate objective is to force lawmakers to put their position on Hegseth’s conduct on record.

The vote could become a test of Republican loyalty to Trump, as well as a wider debate over the limits of presidential power during an overseas conflict.

Whether the effort succeeds or not, the move adds another challenge to an administration already facing questions about the Iran war. It also places Hegseth’s leadership under renewed scrutiny as the White House attempts to defend its military decisions and maintain support among lawmakers.