Hegseth impeachment vote may come next week after midterm losses

House members expect to vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as early as next week. The push follows the Republican loss of the Senate in the midterm elections, a result many attribute directly to the unpopular Iran war that Hegseth championed.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said he will definitely reintroduce articles of impeachment when the chamber returns. This is his second attempt to remove the secretary from office. The first effort focused on Hegseth waging the conflict without congressional approval.

Hegseth has been a polarizing figure since his nomination. He is a former Fox News host and National Guardsman who narrowly secured Senate confirmation. Trump has consistently defended him, stating the secretary did a good job. However, Hegseth’s role as the primary cabinet member for the Iran conflict has left him exposed after the war contributed to the party's electoral defeat.

The political calculus for Republicans is shifting. Massie suggested on Thursday that Trump should fire Hegseth quickly so the current Republican-led Senate can confirm a replacement. He noted that confirmation will be much harder once Democrats take control in January. Massie described his impeachment resolution as a gentler version of what he predicts will happen under Democratic leadership.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell rejected the move as partisan theater. He stated that Hegseth will not be deterred by politicians seeking to score points or launch phoney investigations where no wrongdoing exists. Parnell said the department will continue to drive the president's agenda despite threats of sham witch hunts.

An impeachment vote in the House would force the Senate to begin a trial unless Republicans muster enough votes to set the matter aside. Such a vote would put lawmakers on record supporting the secretary just after voters rebuked the party. Many Republicans who lost their seats this week may skip the lame duck session, potentially increasing the number of votes available to support impeachment.

Vice President JD Vance blamed the midterm wipeout squarely on the conflict. In a post on X on Wednesday, Vance said the reason the party lost was the war. He added that if one argues it was worth losing the Senate for six years, they are free to do so. Hegseth has few allies in Congress, a situation worsened by combative hearings and accusations that he refused to share cost information with oversight committees.