Republican Lawmaker Forces House Vote to Impeach Hegseth Over Iran War

Rep. Thomas Massie claims Hegseth is operating in contravention of three specific provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

A Republican lawmaker has forced a House vote this week to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a vocal critic of his party's policies who earlier this year lost his GOP primary when President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent, read the articles of impeachment on the House floor on Tuesday. He introduced the resolution as privileged, which under House rules forces a floor vote within two legislative days.

Massie invoked a procedural maneuver that bypasses party leadership and puts some of his fellow Republicans in a difficult position weeks before the midterm elections, as the ongoing war in Iran has drawn long-term questions about military intentions combined with economic impacts raising prices on all Americans.

"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, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday. "Secretary Hegseth's constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran.

"He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech. If we are to remain true to our oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States,' Congress must not turn a blind eye to Secretary Hegseth's unconstitutional and illegal actions."

Barring a change to the schedule, Bloomberg Government reported the vote is expected Thursday—the last session day before lawmakers leave for a recess of about six weeks.

Charges Listed Against Hegseth

Massie's resolution accuses Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors in connection with the Iran conflict.

The following are the eight charges being forced for the vote:

• Article I - Waging War in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 Section 2(c): Charges Hegseth with waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat. It establishes that the war was unlawful from its inception.
• Article II - Waging War in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 Section 5(c): Charges Hegseth with continuing the Iran war after both Houses of Congress directed the removal of U.S. forces through H. Con. Res. 86. It focuses on his refusal to obey Congress’s express direction to terminate unauthorized hostilities.
• Article III - Waging War in Contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 Section 5(b): Charges Hegseth with continuing hostilities in Iran after expiration of the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day termination period and any potential 30-day withdrawal period. It establishes that he treated mandatory statutory deadlines as discretionary.
• Article IV - Ignoring Laws that Minimize Civilian Casualties: Charges Hegseth with ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties.
• Article V - Extrajudicial Killings: Charges Hegseth with replacing maritime law enforcement with unauthorized lethal military targeting of suspected drug traffickers, resulting in at least 221 deaths. It also addresses denial of quarter, secondary strikes on survivors, failure to rescue shipwrecked persons, and the creation of artificial legal authorities for the campaign.
• Article VI - Suppressing Free Speech: Charges Hegseth with using DOD authority to retaliate against and intimidate Senator Mark Kelly for constitutionally protected speech questioning unlawful military orders.
• Article VII - Kidnapping of a Sovereign Foreign Leader: Charges Hegseth with directing Operation ABSOLUTE RESOLVE to seize Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Venezuela without constitutional or legal authority.
• Article VIII - Unlawful War in Yemen: Charges Secretary with initiating Operation ROUGH RIDER without congressional authorization or an imminent threat to the United States, while also violating war powers reporting requirements. It further addresses extensive civilian deaths and unlawful strikes on civilian objects, rescuers, and other protected persons.

When reached for comment, a Massie spokesperson referred Military.com to the congressman's statement and press release.

Republican Breaking Ranks

Massie, who is leaving Congress in January after losing his primary, is a Republican bringing an impeachment measure against a Republican administration's defense secretary.

That puts several of his colleagues in a bind. The vote could be especially difficult for Republican Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Warren Davidson of Ohio, according to Bloomberg Government.

All are Republicans who earlier broke with their party to support a measure rebuking President Donald Trump's decision to wage war in Iran without congressional approval.

If the House approved articles of impeachment, it would not immediately remove Hegseth from office. Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the U.S. Senate to convict.

The resolution, however, compels every member of the House to take a recorded position on Hegseth just weeks before pivotal elections.

A Rarity

Impeachment votes against a Cabinet official are very rare.

Only two Cabinet secretaries have ever been impeached by the House: War Secretary William Belknap in 1876, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024.

No defense secretary has been impeached.

The timing adds another unusual element. Hegseth continues to oversee the military's role in the conflict with Iran.

This means the House would formally accuse the sitting civilian leader of the Pentagon of high crimes and misdemeanors while the fighting he is charged with mismanaging continues.

Tensions Over Iran War

This impeachment push follows months of apprehension over Hegseth's handling of the Iran war, initially known as Operation Epic Fury, and his management of the Pentagon.

Military.com has reported on the turnover among the military's senior leaders under Hegseth and on the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during the conflict.

Massie's resolution is not the first attempt to impeach Hegseth. House Democrats introduced their own articles earlier this year over the Iran war and other matters.

However, those measures were referred to committee and never reached a floor vote. What sets Massie's effort apart is the privileged designation, which strips leadership of the ability to keep it off the floor.

Pentagon officials have previously dismissed impeachment efforts against Hegseth as politically motivated, maintaining that military actions were carried out within legal authorities.