Eight charges: Massie files impeachment articles against Hegseth

A procedural clock has started on the House floor, where members will vote within the next two days on whether to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., filed articles of impeachment on Monday, reviving a measure that expired after Speaker Mike Johnson called an early recess before the midterm elections. The immediate action forces a formal decision on the secretary’s authority over military engagements and executive branch conduct.

The resolution lists eight distinct charges against Hegseth. Three charges allege that the secretary illegally waged war against Iran in violation of the War Powers Resolution. One charge accuses him of waging war against Yemen in violation of the same statute. One charge targets the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization. The remaining three charges cite ignoring laws to minimize civilian casualties, overseeing extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, and suppressing free speech related to Sen. Mark Kelly’s video on illegal orders.

Hegseth responded to the filing in a video released last Thursday, describing the effort as sham articles of impeachment. He stated that the process did not work against President Trump and would not work against him. Massie acknowledged his political position after Hegseth called him a disgruntled defeated congressman. Massie told reporters on Monday that he is a defeated congressman but is not disgruntled. He characterized the impeachment process as a formal firing mechanism rather than a criminal proceeding.

The dispute touches on the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress. Massie stated that the core issue is whether Congress holds real war powers, noting that presidents of both parties have largely ignored the War Powers Resolution. He indicated that the effort aims to litigate this constitutional question. The dynamic shifts the focus from partisan conflict to structural authority over military deployment and budgetary control.

Political support for the measure is mixed. Presumptive next House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has signaled support for an impeachment push. Some Republican members who oppose impeachment argue that the administration should better explain its plan for the Iran conflict to Congress and the public. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, told NPR that impeaching Hegseth would be hypocritical given historical precedent. Davidson suggested that lawmakers are better off using the power of the purse to withhold funds for the conflict rather than pursuing removal.

The mathematical path to removal is narrow. The House could pass the articles with the support of all Democrats, Massie, and a small number of Republicans. However, the Senate requires a two-thirds majority to convict and remove a cabinet member from office. This higher threshold makes removal difficult, even if the House votes to impeach.