Hegseth faces removal vote after midterms

Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in September. The Kentucky Republican accused Hegseth of abusing his office by ordering hostilities against Iran without a vote from Congress. Massie says he will force a House vote on the matter shortly after lawmakers return to session on November 9.

The date falls the week after the midterm elections. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated the party intends to move quickly if Democrats secure the majority. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month, Jeffries said the party would run Hegseth out of town as one of its first actions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Democrats are preparing for this scenario.

Other Democratic lawmakers have voiced strong criticism of the defense secretary. Rep. Pramila Jayapal called Hegseth incompetent and corrupt during a CNN interview. Rep. Jared Huffman described him as an unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office. These comments reflect a growing consensus among House Democrats that Hegseth will face removal proceedings if his party holds the chamber.

Hegseth’s recent activities abroad have intensified scrutiny of his leadership. He met secretly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda air base on Monday. This visit occurred days before Israel’s national election. Hegseth confirmed the meeting took place but did not provide details on their discussion. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz attended the sit-down, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was not invited for confidentiality reasons.

The meeting focused primarily on Iran. Massie’s articles of impeachment cite the decision to engage Iran without Congressional approval as a central charge. The timing of the vote, set for days after the midterms, places the defense secretary in a vulnerable position regardless of the election outcome. If Democrats win, they have the numbers to drive the process. If Republicans retain control, Massie’s filing provides a mechanism to force a floor vote on the articles.