House Republican leaders expect enough GOP defections to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when Representative Thomas Massie forces a vote this week on his resolution accusing Hegseth of defying Congress and illegally continuing the U.S. war in Iran. The political calculus shifted after Republicans suffered major losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, with defeated and retiring members now more willing to back impeachment against a defense secretary whose support has eroded since the Iran war began.
Speaker Mike Johnson had canceled votes and sent lawmakers home early before Election Day to avoid the politically difficult impeachment measure. Massie, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed opponent, is now moving forward with the vote. Retiring Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska told reporters Hegseth does not have much support on Capitol Hill and said he remains undecided on the impeachment vote.
Republicans have blamed the Iran war for their electoral losses, with one lawmaker saying the party should never have pursued the war before the midterms. Another Republican told reporters that Hegseth's tone and rhetoric damaged the party's ability to explain why strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and additional military actions were necessary. Some Trump administration officials have pushed for Hegseth's removal, though President Trump said Wednesday he intends to keep him in the post.
Hegseth called the impeachment effort a sham led by a disgruntled, defeated congressman. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department followed the law and that Hegseth will not be deterred by politicians seeking partisan points. Even if the House impeaches Hegseth, removing him would require a two-thirds Senate vote. Democrats, who will control the Senate in January after their midterm victories, would have the power to pursue their own investigations and impeachment proceedings if Hegseth remains in office.