Republican Representative Thomas Massie moved to force a vote to impeach United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday, November 9, 2026, putting pressure on GOP lawmakers following midterm election losses.
Eight Articles Filed
Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth from the floor of the House of Representatives. The resolution accuses the defense chief of waging war in Iran without congressional authorization and ignoring laws meant to minimize civilian casualties.
If Trump’s going to replace appointees like Hegseth, he should do it while he can still get the replacements confirmed in the Senate. Also, my Hegseth impeachment resolution is a much gentler version of what’s coming when Dem’s control Congress. They’ll have hearings & trials. https://t.co/7p3qlqCugw
Additional counts in the resolution target military actions in Yemen, the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and lethal strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean described as extrajudicial killings. Massie argued that the secretary’s actions amount to high crimes and misdemeanours
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Massie first introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on September 15, but House Speaker Mike Johnson called the chamber into recess before that measure could reach the floor. With the House back in session following the midterms, the procedural move started a two-day deadline requiring a vote no later than Wednesday.
.@POTUS "All they do is they talk about impeaching everybody. Honestly, if we wanted to play that game, we could play it just as well… They're talking about Pete Hegseth—HE'S A GREAT WARRIOR. I think he's the best at his job in many, many years." pic.twitter.com/zcSFYyb9t1
The Kentucky congressman told reporters on Monday that he suspects several members of his own party will cross party lines to vote with Democrats in favor of the resolution. Everett B. Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees representing roughly 820,000 federal and D.C. government employees, sent a letter to House members urging a yes vote.
Trump Defends Pete Hegseth Following Republican Midterm Losses
The push comes after Republicans lost key races in the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump defended his appointee in a post on Truth Social, writing, Defeated Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a total loser, is trying to Impeach perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the Country, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.
Trump urged congressional members to stand up for Pete
while asserting that recruitment is at an all-time high compared to the tenure of former Joe Biden, pointing to victories in Venezuela and Iran.
Hegseth defended the military campaigns. If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you’re taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic,
he told reporters.
Huge CONGRATS to @StephenM — a true patriot and America First fighter. He never backs down — and the @DeptofWar is right there with him. pic.twitter.com/lC6YNySOS2
Congressional Divisions
House Speaker Mike Johnson faced decisions regarding whether the resolution constituted a proper question of the house privileges. Republicans continue to hold a majority in the chamber until new members take office in January.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC News that he is a hard yes on the resolution. Meanwhile, other lawmakers voiced varied procedural concerns, with defeated New York Republican Mike Lawler stating he would vote no because the current push lacked the formal process Republicans demanded during the 2024 impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
There are "a lot of questions" for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told NewsNation, as "no one is happy" with the war in Iran. pic.twitter.com/AvjLdmDwO8
Watchdog organizations Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argued that the video violated the Hatch Act by using government resources for partisan purposes, while Senator Thom Tillis criticized the defense secretary on social media for utilizing campaign-style messaging at taxpayer expense.
More on Pete Hegseth
At the War Department: We Stand. We Fight. We Defend the Republic. pic.twitter.com/Kkr0DazmCE
Comer is open to getting rid of Hegseth 👇 NN: What do you want to see done with Pete Hegseth? There's a lot of talk about impeaching him. Do you want to see somebody new? COMER: That's gonna be a decision President Trump is going to have to make, but I can tell you that… pic.twitter.com/SiIWNgycwR
.@PeteHegseth, cabinet secretaries shouldn't be wasting taxpayer dollars on campaign style videos. Kristi Noem learned that the hard way. This is about you: the incompetence you’ve displayed, the bad advice you’ve given to president, and your shameful and embarassing episodes… https://t.co/ZBeY4qjyNc
Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic. pic.twitter.com/XOerXJWoie
Trump told me this morning he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary: “I have every intention to keep him.” Trump acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with Hegseth, but said, “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don't understand why.” He also…
🚨🚨From a source close to incoming Tennessee Gov. Marsha Blackburn: "[Pete Hegseth] is not being considered [for Senate]. This is nothing more than Washington, D. C., spin from a bunch of consultants with nothing better to do. The Blackburn team is focused on the transition, not…
Jeffries on impeachment: "I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution" pic.twitter.com/2sIWrGKTG3
In April, I filed formal Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for stunning incompetence, recklessness, and corruption. Over a dozen colleagues joined me then and, today, even more members are ready to say: Hegseth must be held accountable. Let’s get this to the floor and… https://t.co/JDqyiAFxnL
Speaker Mike Johnson did not answer when I asked him if GOP leaders would whip the Hegseth impeachment vote https://t.co/dYDvoaiOQ0
STAND. FIGHT. DEFEND THE REPUBLIC. pic.twitter.com/HM3gwn83Sd
LIVE now on C-SPAN: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduces resolution to impeach Defense Secy. Pete Hegseth https://t.co/2JkVJv0zqX pic.twitter.com/yBBi35ljqU
.@RepThomasMassie (R-KY): "Secretary Hegseth knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation." pic.twitter.com/sEVhGfLDDK
Just asked GOP Rep. Don Bacon about Hegseth impeachment. Says he is torn over Massie resolution and is weighing supporting it. Says it would be better if Hegseth just resigned. pic.twitter.com/rTi3pJBLvk
The beginning of the end of MAGA "Republican Thomas Massie moves to force vote to impeach Pete Hegseth. US representative accuses defense secretary of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers" https://t.co/G56DBhzFac
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie: "I think there's two categories of Republicans after Nov. 3rd who are more likely to vote to impeach Pete Hegseth. One, I call it the retirement caucus. These aren't people who joined voluntarily. And the ranks of this caucus swelled for Republicans on… pic.twitter.com/sFrlyIUdoX
President Trump tells me he will back Secretary Hegseth even if he's impeached. pic.twitter.com/DK2LRbXxhX
When a senior Cabinet official releases a video message vowing to fight for his job, you know he’s about to lose his job. For Pete Hegseth, it may be a matter of days. Let's hope so. https://t.co/EHiHemOVfY pic.twitter.com/OcQc59OlyQ
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