Hegseth Faces House Vote on 8 Impeachment Articles

The House of Representatives is set to vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later Tuesday evening. The chamber will first hold a procedural vote to determine if the measure should be brought to the floor, following a two-day window for scheduling formal votes after articles are introduced.

Hegseth criticized the effort during a briefing at the Department of Defense, describing it as a farce and a political spectacle. He attributed the push for his removal to the personal animus of Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his seat in the November elections. Hegseth argued the initiative stems from ego and resentment toward President Donald Trump rather than standard oversight or accountability.

Massie introduced updated articles of impeachment on Monday, accusing Hegseth of abusing his office. The resolution cites the launch of the Iran war without congressional approval, the ignoring of laws regarding civilian casualties, and retaliation against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. Massie, who challenged Hegseth to address the eight articles from a podium, urged the Secretary to explain his innocence with the help of his legal team.

The Secretary compared his situation to the two previous impeachments of President Trump during his first term. He noted that the Senate acquitted the president both times and stated he would welcome the company. Hegseth added that the House never moved to impeach his predecessor, Lloyd Austin, while asserting that Republicans do not want to vote for what he described as flimsy articles.

President Trump defended Hegseth shortly after the briefing, writing on Truth Social that the Secretary earned an A plus. The president referred to Massie as a disgruntled and defeated former congressman, calling him a total loser. Trump told reporters on Monday that he would stand by Hegseth if the impeachment proceeds.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated he is a hard yes on the resolution, calling Hegseth the architect of a reckless and costly war of choice. It remains uncertain how many Republicans will join Massie. Speaker Mike Johnson said impeaching a Cabinet secretary during active hostilities would be a terrible look, while other members like Don Bacon of Nebraska are still wrestling with the decision.

Hegseth suggested his impeachment is the first step in a broader attack that could eventually target service members who participated in strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. He maintained that the accusations represent partisan policy disagreements aimed at politicizing the military rather than high crimes or misdemeanors. The status of the Iran war remains unclear, with President Trump stating he plans to maintain the status quo and does not believe further escalation is necessary.