House set to vote on removing Defense Secretary Hegseth as Iran war fallout deepens
A Kentucky Republican has forced a floor vote that could strip the Pentagon chief of his post, a move Speaker Mike Johnson warned could weaken U.S. allies during active combat.
By Simon Bennett ·
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a resolution on Monday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing the House to schedule a floor vote by mid-week. The move sets the stage for a direct test of whether lawmakers will remove the Trump administration’s top military official following severe Republican losses in the midterm elections.
The resolution centers on Hegseth’s role in the war in Iran, but it also cites his leadership during military operations in Yemen and Venezuela. Massie argued that the secretary’s decisions constitute high crimes and misdemeanors, a standard that warrants removal from office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to block the process before it reached the floor. He told lawmakers that removing a cabinet member while the U.S. is engaged in hostilities in the Middle East sends a negative message to global partners. Johnson called the effort a political trick and said the chamber should not impeach for political gain.
Most House Democrats are expected to support the measure. Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated over the weekend that it is time for Hegseth to step down. If the House passes the resolution, the case will move to the Senate for a trial. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers, but Democrats will take control of Congress when the new session begins in January.
Hegseth defended his record on Monday after speaking at the Naval War College in Rhode Island. He told reporters that critics are taking issue with the success of military operations codenamed Epic Fury and Rough Rider. He said his team is not worried about the political noise and that he is willing to litigate the decisions made by the administration.
The secretary also announced he will hold a news conference on Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days. His previous briefing took place in May, and he had not addressed the Iran war or other recent military actions since that time.
Hegseth argued that confronting the Iranian regime’s nuclear program was necessary. He noted that Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a technical step away from the 90 percent level considered weapons-grade. He maintained that the war was a bold move required to prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
President Donald Trump defended Hegseth on Sunday night, claiming the secretary was guilty of winning two wars and saving the Middle East. Trump said it is difficult to impeach someone who achieved those results. This defense comes despite a poll of more than 100,000 voters showing that about 6 in 10 Americans believe the U.S. made the wrong decision by taking military action against Iran.
