House Set to Vote on Impeaching Defense Secretary Hegseth

House members will vote as soon as Wednesday on whether to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move that puts the Trump administration’s war in Iran under direct legislative scrutiny. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, targets Hegseth’s oversight of military operations in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela. For working families, the outcome could influence energy prices and government spending priorities as the war’s economic fallout continues to weigh on household budgets.

Massie, a Republican, filed the resolution on the first day of House sessions following the midterm elections. The text cites “high crimes and misdemeanors” in Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon. Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterms, with many party members attributing their defeat to public dissatisfaction with the Iran conflict.

House Speaker Mike Johnson warned against impeaching a cabinet secretary during active hostilities. Johnson, a Republican, argued that removing the defense chief now would send a weak signal to allies and enemies alike. “We don’t impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks, and I think that’s what this is and I think everybody knows it,” Johnson said during the opening session.

Hegseth defended his actions on Monday, stating he is ready to litigate the decisions made by the administration. He referred to the Iran campaign as “Epic Fury” and the Yemen strikes as “Rough Rider.” Hegseth called the impeachment push “noise” and said his team is not worried about political disagreements. He noted that President Trump said he would do the same actions again if faced with the same situation.

The defense secretary announced a news conference for Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days. His last briefing was in May, and he has not held a public session on the Iran war or other military actions since then. Hegseth claimed Iran is “devastated,” despite ongoing strikes on U.S. military bases and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions in the waterway, which previously carried one-fifth of the world’s oil, have contributed to higher energy costs for consumers.

If the House votes to impeach, the case will move to the Senate for trial. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers, but Democrats will control the new Congress when it convenes in January. Vice President JD Vance recently blamed the Iran war for the party’s midterm losses, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the action as necessary. Hegseth agreed, stating that confronting Iran’s nuclear program was a bold move that was required.

The AP Voter Poll surveyed more than 100,000 voters and found that about six in ten believe the U.S. made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran. Hegseth has been active on social media, posting videos to rally support within the Pentagon. Several political appointees have shared images of Hegseth with the caption “Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic.” Trump defended Hegseth on Sunday, saying the secretary was guilty of winning two wars and saving the Middle East and Israel.