Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor Monday, using a privileged resolution that forces the House to act within two legislative days, ABC News reported.
The move sets up a vote that could put Republicans on the record over Hegseth's leadership of the Pentagon and the Iran war, less than a week after the GOP's heavy midterm losses. Hegseth has dismissed the effort, saying he is "not worried" about it.
What the Articles Allege
Massie's resolution contains eight articles of impeachment. They range from waging war without the consent of Congress to suppressing free speech, according to ABC News.
The articles accuse Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution, ignoring laws meant to limit civilian casualties, and carrying out extrajudicial killings in the military's strike campaign against boats of suspected drug traffickers, which has left at least 221 people dead, Rolling Stone reported. Massie has not changed the resolution since he first filed it.
A Second Attempt
Massie first introduced the articles in mid-September. A vote never happened because Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the final scheduled day of legislative business before the midterm elections. Johnson has denied that the decision was tied to the impeachment vote, Axios reported.
Massie is now a lame duck after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger. He had said the only way he would not refile the articles was if Hegseth resigned, and he urged President Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still control the Senate and can confirm a successor.
How Hegseth and the White House Responded
Hegseth has rejected the effort. In a video posted Thursday, he called the articles a sham pushed by a "disgruntled, defeated congressman" and his Democratic allies, and compared it to the two impeachments of President Trump, Newsweek reported.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth will not be deterred by what he called partisan attacks, and that the secretary is committed to leading the department through the end of Trump's term. Hegseth is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday at 8 a.m. Eastern.
Trump has said he has every intention of keeping Hegseth, though he has privately asked advisers and allies about the secretary's standing, according to The Hill.
Where Lawmakers Stand
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he will vote yes and that Hegseth should go. Other Democrats have also said they are ready to vote for it.
Republicans are more divided. Several have blamed the party's midterm losses on the Iran war, which is central to Massie's case. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has declined to back the effort, while retiring Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he is undecided.
What Happens Next
Because Massie used a privileged resolution, the House must take it up within two legislative days. Republicans still control the House during the lame-duck session, so leadership will have to decide how to handle the vote. Speaker Johnson's team could try a procedural move to set the resolution aside, which would itself require a recorded vote.
Impeachment needs only a simple majority. That means as few as three Republicans voting with all Democrats could pass it, according to ABC News. Massie has said he is confident there will be enough Republican support.
Even if the House impeaches Hegseth, removal would require a two-thirds vote to convict in the Senate. Hegseth's press conference on Tuesday morning is the next moment to watch.