The House could hold a Hegseth impeachment vote as soon as this week, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he is a firm yes. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has vowed to force the issue with a privileged resolution when the lame-duck session opens, and several Republican sources told CNN they expect it to pass.
Jeffries made the announcement Sunday on ABC's This Week, accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of abusing power, weakening national security and steering the country into a costly war with Iran. He said House Democrats will discuss the resolution at their Tuesday conference meeting. Democrats won both chambers on Nov. 3, but they are not sworn in until Jan. 3, so the current Republican majority still controls any vote this month.
Hegseth has dismissed the effort as a sham, and President Donald Trump has said he intends to keep him. The White House maintains the Iran campaign is lawful under the president's authority as commander in chief.
"I'm a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.
— House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, on ABC's This Week
Massie filed eight articles on Sept. 15 under House Rule IX, which lets any member force consideration of impeachment without leadership approval. Once he gives notice that the resolution raises a question of privilege and the parliamentarian agrees, the Speaker has up to two legislative days to schedule a vote. The House can vote on the resolution itself or on a motion to table, which would kill it.
Impeachment needs only a simple majority. Democrats are expected to back it, so the outcome depends on how many Republicans defect. Massie argues that retiring and defeated members may feel freer to break with Trump, while Speaker Mike Johnson has dismissed the effort as a stunt.
Only two Cabinet members have ever been impeached: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, by a 214-213 vote. The Senate dismissed the Mayorkas charges without a trial.
What Are the Articles of Impeachment Against Hegseth?
Massie's 34-page filing accuses Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors across eight articles. The first three focus on the Iran war, alleging it began without a declaration of war or congressional authorization, that Hegseth ignored directives to withdraw troops, and that fighting continued past the War Powers Resolution's deadlines.
The remaining articles allege disregard for civilian protection rules, unauthorized lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly over a video, the operation that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, and Yemen operations without congressional approval. The administration denies wrongdoing.
Can the Senate Remove Hegseth?
A House impeachment would not remove him from office. Conviction takes a two-thirds Senate vote, or 67 of 100 senators if all are present, which would require a sizable bloc of Republicans to turn on Trump. Analysts describe the House vote as the likelier hurdle to clear and a Senate conviction as the far taller one.
The legal dispute at the center is the War Powers Resolution. The law requires the president to report to Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into hostilities and to end the use of force after 60 days unless Congress declares war or authorizes it, with a possible 30-day extension for withdrawal, according to the Congressional Research Service. Massie argues the administration sidestepped that clock by treating successive actions as separate conflicts.
What to Know Right Now
Trump has said he plans to keep Hegseth, and Hegseth has called the articles a sham.
✓ House vote possible this week under Massie's privileged resolution
✓ Passage needs a simple House majority; removal needs 67 senators
✓ Eight articles cover the Iran war, Caribbean strikes, Venezuela and Yemen
✓ Democrats take control of Congress on Jan. 3
Any Republican defections will be the clearest signal of how much support the effort really has.
Trump Orders a Justice Department Review as Democrats Prepare Oversight
The impeachment push is unfolding alongside a wider fight over executive power. On Saturday, Trump urged the Justice Department to investigate Democrats he accused, without offering evidence, of threatening officials and donors with impeachment and investigations. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on CNN that such probes were possible. No charges have been reported.
Rep. Robert Garcia, who is seeking to chair the House Oversight Committee, wants to question Stephen Miller, whom Trump named as his next chief of staff, and Elon Musk about DOGE. The Oversight panel can subpoena witnesses and documents. Jeffries says Democrats will move aggressively in their first 100 days on affordability and what he calls corruption.
Lawyer up.— Rep. Robert Garcia, likely House Oversight chair, reacting to the midterm results
Watch for Massie's formal notice, any motion to table, the size of any Republican defection and the first oversight requests once the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.
Sources
- ABC News: 'I'm a hard yes': Hakeem Jeffries announces support for Hegseth impeachmentabcnews.com(opens in a new tab)
- Al Jazeera: Jeffries backs Hegseth impeachment as Democrats vow probes of Trump alliesaljazeera.com(opens in a new tab)
- Al Jazeera: Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats for 'threatening' peoplealjazeera.com(opens in a new tab)
- Roll Call: Massie vows 'week one' vote in lame duck to impeach Hegsethrollcall.com(opens in a new tab)
- Fox News: GOP Rep. Thomas Massie introduces 8 articles of impeachment against Pete Hegsethfoxnews.com(opens in a new tab)
- Newsweek: Pete Hegseth impeachment vote led by Thomas Massie delayednewsweek.com(opens in a new tab)
- The New Arab: How likely is Pete Hegseth to be impeached over the Iran war?newarab.com(opens in a new tab)
- KBTX (CNN): House could vote next week to impeach Hegseth as GOP support waverskbtx.com(opens in a new tab)
- Congressional Research Service: Understanding the War Powers Resolution (IF13134)everycrsreport.com(opens in a new tab)
