Pete Hegseth Faces Impeachment Threat as Republicans Turn on Trump’s Defense Secretary After Midterm Defeat

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an impeachment vote as early as next week, as Republicans confront the fallout from their heavy defeat in the 2026 midterm elections and growing criticism of the war in Iran.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie plans to force a vote when the House of Representatives returns to Washington, according to reporting by CNN. Several Republican sources told the network they believe the measure could pass, despite the party still controlling the chamber.

But the impeachment effort did not begin with Tuesday's election results. Massie had already announced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September and, on October 26, publicly committed to seeking a vote during the week of November 9.

What has changed is the political environment surrounding the Pentagon chief. Republicans who previously stood behind the administration are now confronting the electoral consequences of an unpopular conflict, while Hegseth's role in shaping US military strategy has come under renewed scrutiny.

Why Republicans are turning against Pete Hegseth

According to CNN, several Republican lawmakers and allies privately accuse Hegseth of helping persuade President Donald Trump to launch military operations against Iran without a convincing exit strategy.

Those lawmakers also argue that the defense secretary overstated the prospects of a quick victory and continued advocating escalation as the conflict dragged on. These assessments remain attributed accounts of internal Republican criticism, rather than independently established findings about Hegseth's advice to Trump.

The political consequences became harder to ignore after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 elections.

Vice President JD Vance publicly identified the conflict as the central explanation for the defeat, writing that "the reason we lost is the war". His assessment reflects a growing dispute within Republican ranks over the administration's military decisions and their domestic consequences.

Hegseth, however, has not lost the president's public backing. Asked on Wednesday whether he was considering replacing his defense secretary, Trump said he was doing "a very good job", according to Reuters.

That public endorsement has not ended speculation about Hegseth's future. CBS News reported that Trump had been asking advisers whether Hegseth should remain in his position, although no decision to replace him had been established.

The eight impeachment charges were already on the congressional record

The distinction between a new political backlash and an existing impeachment effort matters.

On September 15, Massie announced eight proposed articles of impeachment, three of which specifically accused Hegseth of violating provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 through the conduct and continuation of US military operations against Iran.

The remaining allegations concern the handling of civilian casualties, military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, alleged retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly, the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and military action in Yemen.

These are accusations advanced by Massie, not judicial findings or proven violations. The Pentagon disputes allegations of wrongdoing and maintains that it has acted lawfully.

Massie has since made clear that resignation would change his plans. In a public statement reported on November 5, the Kentucky Republican said he would abandon his effort to reintroduce the impeachment articles if Hegseth stepped down.

What an impeachment vote next week would actually mean

The immediate question is whether Massie can secure enough support in the outgoing, Republican-controlled House to advance his impeachment resolution.

His intended timing was documented before the election. In an October 26 interview with Roll Call, Massie identified the first week of the post-election congressional session as his opportunity to force consideration of the measure.

The House could approve articles of impeachment or move to set the resolution aside. A successful impeachment vote would be a major political rebuke, but it would not automatically remove Hegseth from office.

Under the constitutional impeachment process explained by the US Senate, a simple majority in the House is sufficient to impeach a federal official. Removal requires conviction by a two-thirds majority of senators present.

There is also an important timing distinction: the Democrats elected this week do not take office until January 2027. Any vote held next week would therefore take place under the existing congressional balance of power, rather than the Democratic majorities chosen by voters on November 3.

Whether Hegseth ultimately leaves the Pentagon may depend as much on Trump's political calculations as on the impeachment process. The president could replace him without waiting for Congress, while a Senate conviction would require a much broader coalition than a successful House vote.

For now, Massie's planned action presents Republicans with an immediate decision: publicly defend a defense secretary increasingly associated with an unpopular war, or support an impeachment effort that began months before their election defeat.