Rep. Thomas Massie plans impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when Congress returns

In brief

• Rep. Thomas Massie plans to force a House impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when Congress returns.
• Republicans and Democrats have criticized Hegseth over the Iran war, and Democrats plan Pentagon oversight if they win Congress.
• A Quinnipiac poll found 57% of registered voters disapprove of Hegseth's performance.

Massie pushes ahead with impeachment

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky and a frequent critic of Donald Trump, says he will launch an impeachment vote against Hegseth once Congress resumes work next week.

Blame over the Iran war

Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections have intensified efforts to pin responsibility for the war with Iran on Hegseth. Several lawmakers privately argue that he played a central role in persuading Trump to attack Iran without an exit strategy or a plan for managing the aftermath. (У Конгресі США наступного тижня ініціюють імпічмент очільника Пентагону – ЗМІ – Українська правда) Republicans who spoke to CNN said he overestimated how quickly and easily the United States could win the conflict. They accused him of continuing to push for escalation even though long bombing campaigns had not brought Iran closer to surrender.

Democrats prepare investigations

Democrats are preparing broad oversight of the Pentagon if they win control of Congress. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, has said his party would examine military operations, alleged politicization of the armed forces and possible irregularities in defense contract awards. (Hegseth pod coraz większą presją. Demokraci szykują dochodzenie – Wirtualna Polska) Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican senator Tom Tillis have also publicly criticized Hegseth. (Гегсету готують імпічмент: як міністр оборони Трампа опинився під вогнем критики обох партій – Espreso)

Polling and earlier attempts

A Quinnipiac University poll found that 57% of registered voters disapprove of Hegseth's performance as defense secretary, even as Trump continues to back him. Massie first introduced an impeachment resolution in September, accusing Hegseth of waging war on Iran without congressional authorization. No vote was held at that time. (ЗМІ: у Конгресі готуються ініціювати імпічмент міністру оборони після проміжних виборів – Європейська правда)

Cost of the conflict

According to figures cited by lawmakers, 21 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 850 wounded in the Iran war, which critics say has cost nearly $50 billion. Hegseth has also dismissed dozens of generals and admirals with little explanation, further straining his relations with Congress.