Hegseth Removal: House vote set for day after midterms

A House vote to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office is targeted for November 9. That date falls exactly one day after the midterm elections, positioning the procedural step to occur immediately as the new legislative session begins.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment in September. He accused the secretary of abusing his office by executing an order for hostilities against Iran without approval from Congress. Massie intends to force a vote on these articles as soon as the chamber returns to session.

Democratic leaders have signaled their support for the removal effort. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month, "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town." Other members have used stronger language. Representative Pramila Jayapal called Hegseth "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" on CNN. Representative Jared Huffman labeled him an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office."

The political maneuvering overlaps with a recent foreign policy incident. Hegseth held a covert meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base on Monday. This meeting occurred days before Israel's election. Two sources confirmed the event to Walla on Tuesday.

Reuters reported that Hegseth acknowledged the visit but declined to elaborate on the specifics of his conversation with Netanyahu. A KAN News report stated that Iran was the main topic of discussion. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly attended the meeting. The IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior officials were excluded for confidentiality reasons.

The impeachment drive relies on a combination of procedural timing and cross-party criticism. Massie's filing provides the mechanism, while Democratic leadership offers the potential majority needed to pass the articles. The November 9 date ensures the vote happens while the political energy of the midterm cycle remains high.