Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment on September 15 against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This maneuver comes just two months before the midterm elections, potentially complicating the legislative agenda for GOP leadership. Massie, a known political opponent of President Donald Trump, took to the House floor to argue that Hegseth has betrayed his oath of office and functions as a “threat to the Constitution” through his management of the conflict in Iran.
Central to the impeachment effort is the assertion that the Pentagon has bypassed necessary congressional approval for military operations. Massie argued that under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the legal window for U.S. forces to operate in Iran without legislative authorization expired between May 1 and June 1. While the administration has faced criticism for failing to secure formal approval, officials have maintained that the evolving nature of hostilities has continuously shifted their legal obligations.
Beyond the Iran conflict, Massie also highlighted the Pentagon’s activities in Venezuela, including the detention of that nation’s former president, and decried what he termed the erosion of journalistic oversight following cuts to the Pentagon press corps. He specifically addressed the February 28 airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school, which resulted in at least 168 deaths—the majority of whom were children, according to Iranian state media. Massie characterized the incident as evidence of systemic flaws in the Department of Defense targeting protocols, noting that the Pentagon has not yet published the findings of its internal investigation.
“This abuse of office frustrated Congress’ ability to exercise its most solemn constitutional responsibility,” Massie stated during his remarks. The lawmaker’s effort carries a personal dimension, as he was defeated in his primary reelection bid by Ed Gallrein—a candidate explicitly backed by both President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. During a rally for Gallrein on May 18, Hegseth dismissed critics within the party, stating that Trump requires allies willing to prioritize winning and voting in lockstep with the administration.
In defense of the Secretary, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson dismissed the impeachment effort and described Hegseth as a “transformative leader.” Wilson credited the Secretary with restoring merit-based standards, strengthening the national arsenal, and driving recruitment and morale to record levels. “By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before,” Wilson said, adding that the institution remains unified behind the Secretary’s current strategic vision. The report also notes that under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Massie argued that the 60- to 90-day legal deadline for the U.S. military to withdraw forces from Iran would’ve been May 1 – or June 1 at the latest. The report also notes that and he accused Hegseth of undermining “effective journalist oversight” after shrinking the Pentagon press corps. The report also notes that he took particular issue with a U.S. strike on an Iranian primary school that killed more than 100 children at the start of the Middle Eastern conflict. The report also notes that hegseth also supported Gallrein in the election and criticized Massie on the campaign trail.
