Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an impeachment showdown as early as Monday as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie moves to force a House vote against one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent Cabinet officials.
The Kentucky Republican is preparing to revive his effort to impeach Hegseth as lawmakers return to Washington for their first legislative session following Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Massie’s push comes after Democrats captured control of both chambers of Congress, setting the stage for a contentious final stretch of Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.
But Hegseth is not going down without a fight, and some Republicans are already dismissing the impeachment effort.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., rejected the possibility of removing the defense secretary, questioning the justification for the proceedings.
“NO, IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN…you impeach for criminal activity. What did he do?!” Burchett said, according to remarks circulated on social media.
The confrontation centers on eight articles of impeachment Massie introduced in September, accusing Hegseth of exceeding his constitutional authority through military operations involving Iran and other controversial actions overseas.
Massie has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, arguing that Congress has not provided the authorization necessary for continued military operations.
🚨 NOW: SecWar Pete Hegseth could be impeached as soon as TODAY after Rep. Thomas Massie plans to force a vote
Except, Pete is GOING NOWHERE 🔥
REP. TIM BURCHETT: “NO, IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN…you impeach for criminal activity. What did he do?!”
With all Dem support and some Republicans, Hegseth could be impeached with just a simple majority.
But it’s DOA in the Senate, as they’d need 67 votes.
@PeteHegseth, keep putting the troops first!
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 9, 2026
His resolution also raises objections to American military actions involving Venezuela and strikes targeting suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
The allegations remain contested, and Hegseth has rejected the impeachment effort.
Thomas Massie previously attempted to force consideration of the resolution before the midterm elections, but the House adjourned before lawmakers voted.
Now, with Congress returning Monday, the Kentucky Republican intends to bring the issue back to the House floor.
According to Roll Call, Massie identified the first week of the lame-duck session as his opportunity to pursue the measure.
The procedural maneuver could compel House Republicans to confront the allegations even though their party still controls the chamber until the new Congress convenes in January.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has already announced his support for impeaching Hegseth, placing Democratic leadership behind the effort.
That support could make the vote particularly uncomfortable for Republicans who have criticized the administration’s handling of the Iran war.
However, impeachment requires a simple majority in the House, meaning Democrats would still need sufficient Republican support to advance the resolution during the current Congress.
Even if Pete Hegseth were impeached, removing him from office would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
With 100 senators, that generally means 67 votes if every senator participates.
That constitutional requirement presents a substantial obstacle to removing the defense secretary, regardless of the outcome in the House.
President Trump has continued defending Hegseth despite growing criticism of the administration’s military operations.
Last week, the president indicated that he intended to keep Hegseth in his position, even as Republicans examined the political consequences of their midterm losses.
Hegseth has also pushed back against his critics, defending his leadership at the Pentagon and characterizing the impeachment articles as politically motivated.
The dispute comes as Republicans grapple with voter frustration over the Iran conflict and rising energy costs.
Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that the war contributed to the party’s election setbacks, while Trump has defended the military campaign as necessary to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Massie’s impeachment effort has now placed those disagreements at the center of the congressional agenda.
The Kentucky lawmaker is also approaching the end of his time in Congress after losing his Republican primary earlier this year.
That leaves the lame-duck session as his final opportunity to pursue impeachment before his term expires.
While some Democrats and Republicans have expressed support for examining Hegseth’s conduct, other GOP lawmakers remain firmly opposed to removing him.
Burchett’s response underscores the resistance Massie faces within his own party, even as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress.
The House could begin considering the impeachment measure Monday, Nov. 9, although the precise timing of a vote remains uncertain.
