House set to vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Hegseth

Hegseth impeachment vote imminent

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., reintroduced impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under a process requiring a House vote within two days. Members are expected to vote by November 11 unless Republicans block it.

Democrats back the impeachment effort

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the presumptive Speaker starting in January, said November 9 he is a hard yes on impeaching Hegseth. Several other Democratic lawmakers have also pledged support.

Three Republicans needed to pass

To reach a simple majority, three Republicans must join all Democrats in favor. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told Fox News Hegseth lacks support on the Hill but remains undecided on the vote.

Trump defends his Defense Secretary

Trump said November 8 that Hegseth saved the Middle East and Israel, making impeachment difficult. Hegseth responded the next day calling the effort partisan political games Democrats have played for a long time.

“I believe we saved the Middle East and Israel combined. And it's awfully hard to say, 'Let's impeach somebody who did that.'”

Rare Cabinet impeachment precedent

The House has impeached only two Cabinet secretaries in history: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024.

War Powers Resolution violations alleged

Three of Massie's eight articles cite alleged War Powers Resolution violations, claiming Hegseth launched war against Iran without Congress declaring war or authorizing force, and without imminent attack on the United States.

Elementary school bombing in Iran

One article cites an attack at war's outset that hit an elementary school in Minab, Iran, killing more than two hundred civilians.

Caribbean boat strikes and killings

One article alleges extrajudicial killings of at least two hundred twenty-one people on boats the Trump administration claimed without evidence were smuggling narcotics. It says Hegseth chilled legal review and ignored longstanding precedent.

Retaliation against Senator Kelly

One article cites Hegseth's retaliation after Sen.Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., made a video with Democratic lawmakers telling military members they need not carry out illegal orders.

Maduro capture and Venezuela

One article describes the seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as an act of war against a sovereign country, framed as law enforcement but intended to assert U.S. control over Venezuela's oil reserves.

Yemen military operations

One article focuses on U.S. military actions in Yemen that killed an estimated two hundred twenty-four civilians and approximately five hundred to six hundred Houthi fighters over more than fifty days with more than one…

Boat strikes and Kelly counts strongest

Legal experts say articles on Caribbean boat strikes and retaliation against Kelly could be constitutionally very strong, violating domestic, military, international law and the First Amendment. War Powers articles face an uphill battle in impeachment.

Politics may trump legal grounding

Experts say in impeachment, politics can be more important than constitutional grounding. The Maduro capture count is unlikely to advance because Congress probably does not want to take extraordinary rendition off the table, despite its…