Republican Representative Thomas Massie has proposed a vote in the US Congress for the impeachment of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Massie, who has been critical of the Trump administration’s military actions, read articles of impeachment in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, alleging that Hegseth has conducted military operations without congressional approval, engaged in extrajudicial killings, and neglected civilian casualties.
"Secretary Hegseth abused the powers entrusted to him as secretary of defense by subordinating the constitutional limits on the use of military force and the laws governing the conduct of hostilities to his own policy objectives," Massie stated, expressing concerns about Hegseth's disregard for civilian impacts.
Hegseth has faced scrutiny for his comments regarding the US-Israel conflict and his dismissal of regulations designed to protect civilians during military operations, which he has referred to as "stupid" and "politically correct".
The impeachment resolution is expected to be voted on soon, though it is unlikely to pass in the Republican-majority House. The Pentagon has expressed support for Hegseth, with Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stating, "The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first."
While polls indicate that many Republicans back the war on Iran, some, including Massie and media figure Tucker Carlson, have voiced opposition to the interventionist policies of the Trump administration. President Trump, during his 2024 campaign, has criticized Massie for his stance against the war and his push for the release of the Epstein Files. Massie lost his primary election in May to a challenger supported by Trump and pro-Israel groups.