House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York has publicly endorsed an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a cabinet official under President Donald Trump. This announcement signals a significant escalation in congressional scrutiny of the Defense Secretary's conduct regarding U.S. military operations, particularly concerning the conflict in Iran. The move comes as Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, prepares to reintroduce articles of impeachment against Secretary Hegseth in the House of Representatives.
"I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution. The so-called secretary of defense has abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe. Pete Hegseth has got to go.”" Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader.
Jeffries, who is slated to become Speaker of the House in January, made his position clear on ABC’s This Week, stating that Democrats would pursue impeachment efforts both in the current lame-duck session and once the new Congress convenes. "I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution," Jeffries declared, directly linking his support to the Iran conflict. He asserted that the war had "skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe," while accusing Hegseth of abusing power and undermining national security.
Representative Massie, who will be leaving Congress, initially filed eight articles of impeachment against Secretary Hegseth in September. These articles accused the Defense Secretary of violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973 through U.S. military operations in Iran. Additionally, they listed other charges related to military actions and congressional oversight. That initial filing did not receive a floor vote due to the House adjourning early. Massie now plans to refile the resolution as early as Monday or during the first week of the lame-duck session, which commences around November 9. His stated condition for stopping these efforts is Hegseth's departure from office.
The procedural mechanism Massie intends to use, House Rule IX, allows for a "privileged resolution," which mandates the Speaker to schedule consideration within two legislative days. Massie has expressed optimism about the resolution's chances, citing anticipated Democratic support and the potential for outgoing Republicans, whose campaigns have concluded, to vote more freely than they might have earlier in the year.
The timeline for these developments is approaching rapidly. House Democrats are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the resolution. Following Massie's expected refiling, the two-day Speaker deadline for scheduling a vote would quickly follow. Should a "yes" vote occur in the lame-duck session, it would impeach Hegseth and send the case to the Senate. Republicans currently control the Senate until early January.
The political landscape will shift significantly with the new Congress, which convenes on January 3. Democrats secured majorities in both the House and Senate in the November 2026 midterm elections. This incoming Democratic majority offers a second pathway for impeachment efforts. Democratic leaders could bypass the privileged resolution route and pursue impeachment through regular order, which typically involves committee investigations and extensive hearings. Jeffries and other Democrats have previously indicated their intent to seek "accountability" for Hegseth through oversight powers if he remains in his post.
The U.S. Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole authority to impeach the president, vice president, and all civil officers of the United States, a category that includes cabinet secretaries. A simple majority vote on one or more articles alleging "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is sufficient for impeachment. Once impeached by the House, the case proceeds to the Senate for a trial. For a cabinet official, the vice president or the Senate’s president pro tempore presides over the trial, rather than the Chief Justice. Removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of the senators present.
Historically, the Senate has never convicted and removed a cabinet secretary following impeachment by the House. In 1876, the House impeached War Secretary William Belknap, but he resigned before his trial, and the Senate later acquitted him. More recently, in 2024, the House impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but the Senate declined to conduct a trial. The current effort against Secretary Hegseth, backed by incoming Democratic leadership, marks a renewed attempt to utilize this constitutional power against a sitting cabinet official.
