Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Tuesday launched an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing the Pentagon’s military actions against Iran.
Massie, a frequent critic of President Trump, accused Hegseth of launching an illegal war that was not approved by Congress. He introduced articles of impeachment on the House floor against Hegseth for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Massie also took the remarkable step of making his resolution privileged, meaning he’s forcing it to the floor for a vote. By House rules, that vote must come within two days.
He argued that Hegseth violated “his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States” and violated “his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, especially with regard to the commission of war.” He added that Hegseth has “abused the powers of the Department of Defense.”
It’s not clear whether his resolution will garner GOP support.
Massie, who lost his primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein (R) in May, has previously introduced war powers resolutions to limit Trump’s military actions in Iran.
The House, so far, has passed two war powers resolutions, with a few Republicans bucking party leadership and joining Democrats in favor of them. Under the War Powers Resolution, a president must end unauthorized U.S. military involvement within 60 days unless Congress formally declares war or otherwise approves the operation. The president may also receive an additional 30 days to safely withdraw U.S. troops.
The Pentagon praised Hegseth as a “transformative leader” who has delivered results for the Defense Department.
“Standards and merit are back, our arsenal is stronger than ever before and morale and recruitment across every service are at all-time highs. Secretary Hegseth has slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way,” Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon’s press secretary, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before. The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first,” Wilson added.
In May, Hegseth traveled to Kentucky to stump for Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Massie’s primary opponent. The Defense secretary ripped Massie as an obstructionist, saying that “at some point, being against everything becomes an excuse for accomplishing nothing.”
Gallrein beat the incumbent, ending Massie’s reelection bid.
Updated at 1:19 p.m. EDT.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.