Republican moves to impeach Trump’s defence secretary

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has filed articles of impeachment against US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging that he abused his office by implementing unlawful orders to launch a war against Iran. The articles were introduced by Massie on the House floor on Monday, with a vote on the motion expected by Wednesday. Massie accused Hegseth of "knowingly executing and implementing unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation" and claimed that the defence secretary had acted in a manner that was incompatible with his responsibilities and the rule of law.

Hegseth has remained defiant, while President Trump has publicly backed his defence secretary. The impeachment move comes following the Republican Party's poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections, with some lawmakers blaming the Iran war for the electoral setback. Although a simple majority in the House is required to impeach Hegseth, removal from office would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a much higher threshold that would necessitate support from a significant number of Republican senators.