Republican launches impeachment bid against Hegseth over Iran war

• Massie accuses Hegseth of abusing his office and knowingly carrying out unlawful orders to launch military action against a foreign country.
• He argues that Hegseth's conduct threatens the US Constitution and violates the rule of law.
• Hegseth has remained defiant, while US President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his support for the defense secretary.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced Monday articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of abusing his office and unlawfully initiating military action against Iran.

Massie, a Kentucky Republican who has frequently clashed with US President Donald Trump, filed the articles on the House floor on Monday. The measure would need to be brought to a vote by Wednesday.

In presenting the case, Massie accused Hegseth of knowingly carrying out unlawful orders to launch a war against a foreign country, arguing that his conduct violated constitutional limits on executive power.

"Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law," Massie said.

Hegseth has pushed back against the allegations, while Trump has publicly backed his defense secretary. Hegseth is also expected to address the matter at a news conference on Tuesday.

The impeachment effort comes amid growing criticism of Hegseth within Republican circles following the party's major setbacks in the 2026 midterm elections. Some Republican lawmakers and allies have increasingly pointed to the defense secretary as a source of the administration's political difficulties.

The measure could secure enough support to pass the Republican-controlled House, where impeachment requires a simple majority. Democratic backing, combined with votes from Massie and a limited number of Republicans, could be sufficient to advance it.

However, removing Hegseth from office would face a considerably steeper hurdle. A conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority, meaning the effort would need substantial Republican support in addition to Democratic votes.

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