Why it Matters
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is standing firm in his effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, drawing support from Democrats and opposition from Republican leaders as President Donald Trump has defended Hegseth.
Massie reintroduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday Nov. 9, following an earlier effort in September. According to a press release from Massie's office, three articles allege violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 related to the Iran war. The remaining articles accuse Hegseth of disregarding civilian protections, conducting extrajudicial killings, retaliating against a U.S. senator, unlawfully capturing Venezuela's leader and conducting unauthorized military operations in Yemen. House Republican leaders could bring a procedural vote on the resolution as soon as today Nov. 10, although that would not necessarily be a direct vote on impeachment.
The Big Picture
In his Nov. 9 press release, Massie accused Hegseth of continuing military operations in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization. He also alleged that Hegseth disregarded a War Powers Resolution passed by Congress to withdraw U.S. forces from the conflict and continued hostilities beyond the resolution's statutory deadlines.
The fourth and fifth articles allege that Hegseth disregarded laws intended to minimize civilian casualties and authorized lethal military strikes against suspected drug traffickers rather than relying on maritime law enforcement. Massie's office alleges that the strikes caused at least 243 deaths and included attacks on survivors. Massie also accused Hegseth of violating laws protecting civilians during the Iran war, citing a U.S. airstrike on an Iranian elementary school that reportedly killed more than 100 people, many of them children. The sixth article accuses Hegseth of retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for speech questioning unlawful military orders.
The seventh article alleges that Hegseth directed the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Venezuela without legal authority. The eighth article accuses him of launching Operation Rough Rider in Yemen without congressional authorization or an imminent threat to the United States, while continuing to violate war powers reporting requirements.
What They're Saying
Democrats backing the articles include Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who wrote on Nov. 8: "Hard Yes on the Hegseth impeachment resolution." Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) posted on Nov. 9: "Accountability is due. It's time to impeach Hegseth."
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrote on Nov. 9: "In two days, Congress will vote to impeach Pete Hegseth." He added, "I'm working with @RepThomasMassie to lead the charge." Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) posted the same day: "Pete Hegseth is a failure. President Trump will not fire him, so Congress must act."
In an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Nov. 9, Trump said: "We won two wars, and we've made the world a lot safer place, and then we're supposed to be impeached?" Hegseth dismissed the effort as a "political spectacle" and defended the military operations as lawful actions ordered by the president.
The Bottom Line
Massie wrote on Nov. 10 that "Today the House will vote on the Hegseth Impeachment Resolution." He said the first vote would be on a procedural motion to stop or redirect consideration of the resolution, such as a motion to "refer to committee." If that effort fails, he wrote, "we will proceed to a real debate and vote on the Articles of Impeachment."
Massie also urged Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats assume control of Congress in January, warning that the incoming majorities could pursue hearings and investigations into the defense secretary's conduct. The House could refer the resolution to committee, table it, or proceed toward a vote on the articles themselves. A referral or tabling vote would not constitute a direct vote on whether to impeach Hegseth.
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