Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an additional impeachment push from within his own party if he remains in office after the November midterm elections.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) signaled Monday that he plans to reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth when Congress returns to Washington if the defense secretary is still running the Pentagon, The Hill reports.
Massie made his intentions clear in a social media post recounting an exchange with a reporter who asked whether he would revive the impeachment effort.
“If he’s still SecDef,” Massie replied.
The Kentucky Republican launched the impeachment effort against Hegseth in September, accusing him of serious misconduct over the U.S. war with Iran. Now, he is warning that the fight may not be over when lawmakers return from the midterm elections.
The pressure on Hegseth is not coming from Massie alone. Democrats have also signaled they are prepared to make his leadership of the Pentagon a major political fight.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Monday that Democrats would seek to push Hegseth out if they win control of the House in November.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have floated Hegseth’s removal as a potential condition for cooperation on key defense-related matters during the post-election, or lame-duck, session.
They may also find support among Republicans who have grown frustrated with Hegseth’s leadership, particularly his removal of respected military leaders.
For Hegseth, that means the political threat could extend beyond the usual partisan battle lines.
Massie Accuses Hegseth of Unlawful War Conduct
Massie’s impeachment push centers on his allegations that Hegseth initiated and continued the U.S. war against Iran unlawfully.
The congressman has accused the defense secretary of defying congressional orders to withdraw from the conflict and contributing to unnecessary civilian casualties. Massie argues that the alleged conduct amounts to “high crimes and misdemeanors,” the constitutional standard for impeachment.
Massie is leaving Congress after losing his Republican primary to a challenger backed by President Donald Trump, but he is signaling that his fight with Hegseth could continue before his term ends.
Lawmakers are expected to take up the impeachment question when they return to Capitol Hill, while the midterm results could reshape the political pressure facing the defense secretary.
If Hegseth remains in the job, Massie says he is prepared to bring the impeachment effort to the House floor.
