Impeachment proceedings against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have now begun. On Monday, Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to launch impeachment proceedings against the Pentagon chief, who is widely disliked by Democrats and has few supporters within Republican ranks, where he has come under fire for his role in the war against Iran since last week’s midterm-election setback.
Calls for Hegseth’s removal have grown steadily louder in recent days. Congress returned to work on Monday following the Democrats’ landslide victory in the November 3 midterms, and one of the first items on its agenda is expected to be the opening of impeachment proceedings against the defense secretary.
The impeachment effort is the first directed at a member of the current administration and a measure of the extent to which the midterm results may have weakened Donald Trump’s government.
Massie’s resolution argues that Hegseth backed military operations that lacked a clear legal basis, well-defined objectives and a coherent strategic rationale, exposing U.S. troops to unnecessary risks.
Massie’s initiative must first clear a vote in the House of Representatives, which could take place as early as Wednesday. If approved by a majority of lawmakers, the measure would then move to the Senate.
Since last week, all eyes have been on Massie, a longtime opponent of U.S. military interventions abroad, who first moved in mid-September to launch impeachment proceedings against the former Fox News host. At the time, House Speaker Mike Johnson chose to delay consideration of the measure rather than bring it to the floor. He then moved up the House recess ahead of the elections, effectively consigning the effort to legislative limbo.
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