Republican Congressman Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on before President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug.

3, 2026. —Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images Republican Rep.

Thomas Massie has moved to force a House vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , marking perhaps the most striking instance yet of a member of President Donald Trump’ s own party publicly condemning one of his top Cabinet officials.

The Kentucky Congressman introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Tuesday, including allegations that the Defense Secretary is waging the war in Iran in contravention of multiple provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

One of the articles of impeachment also alleges that Hegseth is “suppressing free speech” by using the Defense Department’s “authority to retaliate against and intimidate Senator Mark Kelly for constitutionally protected speech,” after the lawmaker made a video with other Democrats reminding members of the military and intelligence community that they can refuse to carry out illegal orders .

Another article that Massie introduced alleges that the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife was carried out “without constitutional or legal authority.” “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 in a statement .

“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,” Massie continued.

Massie said to reporters on Tuesday that he didn’t tell Republican leaders ahead of time that he was going to make such a move.

The impeachment push faces a steep uphill battle given GOP control over the House.

And even if the resolution were to make it through the lower chamber, a two-thirds majority vote in the Republican-controlled Senate would be required to convict Hegseth in order to expel him from office, likely making the effort dead on arrival.

It’s not yet clear when exactly the House will vote on Massie’s resolution; the lower chamber is scheduled to leave the nation’s capital later this week for a recess.