Massie Vows to Impeach Hegseth Over Iran War if Defense Secretary Survives Midterms
WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has signaled that he intends to renew his effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if he remains in office after the November midterm elections, setting up another potential confrontation over the Trump administration’s handling of the war with Iran and leadership at the Pentagon.
Massie indicated Monday that he would reintroduce articles of impeachment when lawmakers return to Washington following the elections, provided Hegseth has not left his post by then.
The congressman disclosed his intentions in a social media post responding to a reporter’s question about the future of his impeachment effort. Asked whether he would bring the articles back before Congress when lawmakers reconvene, Massie offered a brief response: “If he’s still SecDef,” using shorthand for secretary of Defense.
The statement signals that Massie is prepared to continue pursuing Hegseth’s removal despite opposition from the administration and uncertainty over whether the effort could gain sufficient support in the House.
Massie first launched his impeachment push in September, accusing Hegseth of committing serious violations in connection with the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The Republican lawmaker argued that the defense secretary had helped initiate and sustain an unlawful war and had disregarded congressional authority over the conflict.
Among the allegations outlined by Massie were claims that Hegseth violated constitutional and legal limits on military action, defied congressional directives to withdraw from the war and contributed to unnecessary civilian casualties. Massie characterized the alleged conduct as potentially amounting to “high crimes and misdemeanors,” the constitutional standard cited in impeachment proceedings.
The allegations represent Massie’s position and have not, by themselves, established that Hegseth committed impeachable offenses.
The dispute comes as lawmakers prepare to return to Capitol Hill next month, when the future of Hegseth’s leadership is expected to remain a point of contention. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Monday that Democrats intend to make the defense secretary a target if they secure control of the House in the midterm elections.
Jeffries has indicated that a Democratic majority would move aggressively to challenge Hegseth’s continued leadership of the Pentagon, suggesting that the secretary could face mounting political pressure if Republicans lose their House majority.
The prospect of impeachment proceedings adds to broader questions about Hegseth’s standing in Congress, including whether criticism of his leadership could extend beyond the Democratic caucus.
Senate Democrats have also discussed making Hegseth’s removal a condition of cooperation with Republicans on significant defense-related matters during the post-election lame-duck session. Such a strategy could complicate negotiations over military policy and other legislation as lawmakers attempt to advance priorities before the next Congress takes office.
Democrats may find support among some Republicans who have grown dissatisfied with Hegseth’s management of the Defense Department, particularly his decisions to remove prominent military leaders. Those personnel changes have drawn scrutiny from critics who question whether the secretary’s approach has strengthened or undermined the military’s leadership structure.
Whether that dissatisfaction translates into meaningful bipartisan support for impeachment remains uncertain. Removing a Cabinet secretary through impeachment would require substantial congressional backing, and Massie’s renewed effort would face significant political obstacles in a Republican-controlled House.
Massie himself is approaching the end of his congressional career after losing his Republican primary to a challenger endorsed by President Donald Trump. The defeat followed years of increasingly public disagreements between the Kentucky lawmaker and the president, including disputes over foreign policy, government transparency and the administration’s handling of politically sensitive matters.
Although Massie has frequently broken with members of his own party, his opposition to the Iran war has become one of the most prominent points of conflict with the Trump administration.
His disagreements with Trump have extended beyond military policy. Massie worked alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to force the administration to release government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an effort that placed the two lawmakers on the same side of a politically contentious transparency battle.
Massie’s willingness to challenge the administration on both national security and government disclosure has helped distinguish him from many other Republicans in Congress, even as those confrontations have carried political consequences within his own party.
With the midterm elections approaching, the question of Hegseth’s future could become another flashpoint in the struggle over congressional oversight, executive authority and the direction of U.S. military policy.
For now, Massie has made his position clear: If Hegseth remains defense secretary when lawmakers return to Washington, the congressman intends to put impeachment back on the table. Whether the effort gains enough support to advance could depend on the election results, the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the willingness of lawmakers from both parties to challenge the Pentagon chief’s leadership.