What changed
Republican Representative Thomas Massie has introduced articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and is seeking a House vote this week.
Massie alleges that Hegseth violated the Constitution by engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization. Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule consideration within two days, though the House could vote on the resolution, refer it to committee or set it aside.
Why it matters
This is an attempt to force a decision about who controls the boundary between the White House and Congress when military action continues. Massie says Hegseth should be held accountable and that President Donald Trump should replace him before Democrats take control of both chambers next year.
The immediate political math is difficult. Massie is a Republican, but he lost re-election earlier this year and would need support from his own party. Democrats appear ready to back the move: House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has called himself a “hard yes.” Hegseth says he is not concerned and plans to address the issue at a Tuesday morning news conference.
Removal would require impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate. That has happened to no cabinet secretary: the House has impeached only two cabinet members in US history, and the Senate rejected both cases.
Massie first introduced impeachment articles in September. The new push comes after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in last week’s midterm elections, giving the effort a sharper deadline. It is likely to fail while Republicans remain in charge until January, but it puts Hegseth’s conduct and the administration’s war powers directly on the congressional record before that control changes hands.
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