Republican Lawmaker Moves To Force Vote To Impeach Hegseth, Pentagon Chief Reacts: ‘Not Worried’

Last Updated:November 10, 2026, 02:06 IST

Under the procedure, House Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule its consideration within 2 days.Lawmakers can vote on the resolution, refer it to a committee or move to set it aside.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (AFP photo)

Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie on Monday introduced a resolution seeking to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of waging war against Iran without congressional approval and misusing his authority as Pentagon chief.

Massie, who represents Kentucky, has outlined eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, setting the stage for a contentious vote in Congress just days after President Donald Trump’s party suffered a major setback in the midterm elections.

Massie Introduces Eight Articles Of Impeachment

“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said, BBC reported.

Under the procedure, House Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule its consideration within two days. Lawmakers can vote on the resolution, refer it to a committee or move to set it aside.

The proposal is unlikely to succeed while Republicans remain in control of Congress until January. However, Massie said he wanted President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats take charge and initiate their own impeachment proceedings.

“My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what’s coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year,” Massie said in a statement. “They will hold hearings and trials.”

“President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate,” he added.

Hegseth Dismisses Impeachment Threat

Meanwhile, Hegseth dismissed concerns about the move and said he would address the issue at a news conference on Tuesday. “We’re not worried about that,” he told reporters on Monday, BBC reported.

Massie, who lost his re-election bid earlier this year, has been among the few Republicans openly critical of Trump and the US military campaign in Iran. He has also accused Hegseth of intimidating government critics, kidnapping foreign leaders and disregarding congressional resolutions on war powers.

Impeachment of a Cabinet secretary is rare in US history. Removal from office requires approval from both the House and the Senate.

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Why did Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduce a resolution to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth?

Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, accusing him of waging war against Iran for over 90 days without congressional approval and misusing his authority as Pentagon chief.

What was Pete Hegseth’s reaction to the impeachment resolution introduced by Representative Thomas Massie?

Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns regarding the impeachment move, stating that he and his team were “not worried about that” and describing the efforts as a political campaign of personal destruction.

What role does House Speaker Mike Johnson play under the procedure for the impeachment resolution?

Under the established procedure, House Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule consideration of the resolution within two days, allowing lawmakers to vote on it, refer it to a committee, or set it aside.

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Manisha RoySenior Sub-Editor

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More

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