Republican Massie files eight articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Hegseth

Republican demands the resignation of the defense secretary

Republican congressman from Kentucky Thomas Massie on Monday re-introduced an impeachment resolution against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and intends to force the House of Representatives to vote this week. According to him, 'by waging hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable.' BBC News reported this. The resolution was introduced under a privileged procedure that obliges House leadership to schedule a vote within two legislative days; however, the majority may, by a simple vote, send it to committee or table it.

Eight articles of impeachment

According to Anadolu, the resolution contains eight articles of impeachment and demands not only Hegseth's removal but also a ban on holding federal office in the future. The first three articles concern violations of the 1973 War Powers Resolution due to operations against Iran without congressional authorization. The subsequent articles, according to the outlet, cover: weakening civilian protection measures (citing the strike on the Shajara Tayyeba school in Minab, Iran, where, the resolution claims, more than 150 civilians died, including about 120 schoolchildren); strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, in which, it is claimed, at least 243 people were killed; pressure on Senator Mark Kelly after he took part in a video about the right of service members to refuse unlawful orders; the January operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (at least 83 dead and seven American losses) and the 'Rough Rider' campaign in Yemen — more than 1,100 strikes in roughly 52 days in 2025. All of these points are assertions of the resolution itself, not established facts.

Reaction and prospects

Hegseth told journalists in Rhode Island that he is not afraid of impeachment: 'We are not worried. Tomorrow morning we will hold a press conference on exactly this topic,' noting that his opponents are 'politically motivated.' This is his first press conference since May, BBC reports. Leader of the Democratic minority in the House Hakeem Jeffries called himself a 'firm yes' on impeachment. Nevertheless, the chances of success are assessed as low: Republicans retain control of Congress until January, and removing a secretary requires approval by both chambers — in US history, the House has impeached only two cabinet members, and in both cases the Senate did not concur. Massie himself, who lost his re-election bid this year, explains his initiative as a desire to push Donald Trump to replace Hegseth now, 'while a replacement can still be confirmed by the Senate,' and to avoid a Democratic 'spectacle' of hearings and proceedings next year, when, as a result of the midterm elections held last week, they will gain control of both chambers. The White House previously denied reports that Hegseth would leave his post.

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