House Republicans and Democrats Prepare Impeachment Vote Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

House members from both parties are preparing a vote as early as next week on articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the Republican losses in the November 4, 2026, midterm elections.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, said he will reintroduce the articles when Congress returns. Massie has described the resolution as a milder version of what a Democratic-controlled House will pursue after January. Multiple Republican sources told reporters they expect the measure to pass if brought to the floor, because all Democrats are expected to support it and a growing number of Republicans want to distance themselves from the administration's handling of the Iran war.

Hegseth released a video on November 5 outside the Defense Department. He said, "We Stand, We Fight," and accused critics of pursuing the politics of personal destruction. He compared the effort to the two impeachments of President Trump and stated that it would not succeed against him. Trump told reporters that Hegseth is doing a fantastic job and has indicated he intends to keep him in the post.

The midterm results shifted the political math. Democrats won at least 253 House seats to the Republicans' 157, with several races still undecided. In the Senate, races in Mississippi and Alaska remained close. Many Republican lawmakers and aides have told reporters that the Iran war contributed directly to the losses. Hegseth has been the most visible advocate for continued operations. One Republican lawmaker, speaking anonymously, summarized the view inside the conference as "He's screwed."

Massie tried to advance impeachment articles before the election and lacked the votes. Attendance problems among remaining House Republicans and the desire of some members to create distance from Trump after the rout have changed the count. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called for Hegseth's removal but has not yet endorsed the Massie resolution specifically.

The articles focus on Hegseth's role in the Iran campaign. Critics inside the party argue he convinced Trump to proceed without a clear exit strategy or plan for the political consequences. Hegseth has told associates he expects to remain in office and is prepared to defend every Pentagon decision in any subsequent hearings. A person close to him said the secretary has communicated to the White House that he will own the policy choices.

The current Republican House majority ends when the new Congress is seated in January 2027. Any impeachment that passes the House this month would still require a Senate trial. With Democrats likely to control the Senate as well, the threshold for conviction would be lower than in previous cases, though still requiring a two-thirds vote. No Senate Republican has publicly endorsed removal.

The timing places the vote during the lame-duck session. Massie has said he will use a privileged resolution to force consideration regardless of leadership preferences. Leadership has not stated whether it will attempt to table or delay the measure. The outcome will turn on how many Republicans join Democrats on the floor.