US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faces impeachment proceedings over Iran conflict

Outgoing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has officially initiated impeachment proceedings against U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, accusing him of overstepping his authority during the conflict with Iran. Filed on Monday, November 9, 2026, the impeachment articles allege that Hegseth violated a 1973 law by launching military actions against a foreign nation without Congressional approval. Massie claims the Secretary’s actions constitute a threat to the Constitution and the rule of law, with a vote in the House of Representatives expected by Wednesday, November 11.

Secretary Hegseth has dismissed the proceedings as a political "farce" and "sabotage," emphasizing that no U.S. Secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for conducting legal military operations. President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Hegseth, despite acknowledging pressures within the party following the Republican defeat in the November 3 midterm elections. While the impeachment effort reflects internal GOP discontent regarding the war's economic and political costs, analysts suggest the initiative has little chance of success. A simple majority is required in the House, but a two-thirds majority in the Senate would be necessary for removal, a threshold considered virtually impossible to reach.