<p>Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) filed articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth on September 15, 2026, accusing him of abusing the power of his office.</p>
<p>The Kentucky Republican's articles address issues related to the war in Iran, the Trump administration's arrest of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, strikes on alleged drug boats, and the war in Yemen. Massie also accused Hegseth of ignoring laws designed to minimize civilian casualties and suppressing free speech.</p>
<p>“By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated. “The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first.”</p>
<p>Massie’s filing follows Hegseth's campaign activities in Massie's district in May, where he supported primary opponent Ed Gallrein. Gallrein won the primary by approximately 10 points, marking it as the most expensive House primary on record.</p>
<p>The articles of impeachment against Hegseth are privileged, requiring the House to address them within two legislative days.</p>
<p>Here are the eight impeachment charges:</p>
<p>Article I: Charges that Hegseth waged war with Iran without a declaration of war, claiming it was unlawful since it began in February.</p>
<p>Article II: Points to war powers resolutions passed in both chambers of Congress directing the removal of U.S. forces from Iran. Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on another war powers resolution this week.</p>
<p>Article III: Similar to the first two articles, but further addresses the 60-day termination under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, charging Hegseth with disregarding “mandatory statutory deadlines as discretionary.” The war has continued for nearly seven months and has escalated following a fragile ceasefire.</p>
<p>Article IV: Claims the secretary ignored “laws that minimize civilian casualties.”</p>
<p>Article V: Points to at least 221 deaths attributed to “replacing maritime law enforcement with unauthorized lethal military targeting of suspected drug traffickers” after an operation targeting alleged drug traffickers off the coast of South America earlier this year.</p>
<p>Article VI: Cites the administration’s dispute over free speech after Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) appeared in a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders. Hegseth described the video as “seditious” and attempted to strip Kelly of his rank and pension, although a court blocked this effort. The Pentagon has appealed the block, with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals hearing oral arguments in May.</p>
<p>Article VII: Targets the capture of Maduro “without constitutional or legal authority.” Questions regarding the constitutionality of the raid were raised by Congressional Democrats and Republicans during briefings following the operation.</p>
<p>Article VIII: Claims strikes in Yemen also violated war powers reporting requirements, specifically citing civilian deaths.</p>
<p>Hailey Bullis contributed to this article.</p>