US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday dismissed an effort to impeach him as a “farce”, after Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie introduced eight articles accusing him of abusing his office and authorising unlawful military actions.
Speaking at a Pentagon news conference on 10 November, Hegseth argued that the proceedings targeted American troops and military leaders for carrying out what he described as lawful operations.
“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” he said, warning that the effort handed US adversaries a propaganda victory.
Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s decision to launch military operations against Iran, saying they were necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He said he stood by the operations and would carry them out again.
The comments followed Massie’s introduction of a 34-page impeachment resolution on Monday. The Kentucky Republican accused Hegseth of eight violations of law or the US Constitution, covering military campaigns abroad and his treatment of a US senator.
What are the allegations?
Three of the eight articles focus on the war against Iran. They accuse Hegseth of directing military action without a congressional declaration of war or specific authorisation for the use of force.
The resolution also alleges that he continued the campaign despite congressional efforts to end the hostilities and after the 60-day deadline set out in the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
Another article accuses Hegseth of failing to uphold laws designed to limit civilian casualties during military operations. It cites a strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab, where more than 200 civilians were killed, according to the resolution.
The document also challenges US military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Trump administration has described the vessels as suspected drug-trafficking boats.
Massie’s resolution accuses Hegseth of overseeing extrajudicial killings and says at least 221 people were killed in the operations. It also alleges that US forces failed to rescue shipwrecked survivors and carried out further strikes against people in the water.
The claims have not been established through a court ruling. The resolution argues that the Pentagon has not provided sufficient public evidence to justify the killings.
A separate article concerns Hegseth’s treatment of Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain. It accuses the secretary of using his authority to intimidate Kelly after he appeared in a video with other lawmakers urging service members not to obey unlawful orders.
The remaining articles address the US operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and American military action in Yemen. Massie argues that both campaigns lacked the necessary legal or congressional authorisation.
Political battle in Congress
Hegseth has rejected the allegations and portrayed the impeachment effort as politically motivated. Trump has also backed the defence secretary, praising his handling of the Iran war and criticising Massie.
The House is expected to consider the resolution within two legislative days of its introduction. Lawmakers can vote on the articles, table the measure or refer it to a committee.
The effort faces a difficult political test. Republicans still control the outgoing Congress, but Democrats won both chambers in the 3 November midterm elections and are due to take control in January.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he would support impeaching Hegseth. A simple majority in the House is required to approve the articles, while conviction and removal from office would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
Only two US Cabinet secretaries have previously been impeached by the House: War Secretary William Belknap in 1876 and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. If the House approves the charges against Hegseth, he would become the third.
Hegseth has insisted the effort will fail, saying he remains focused on protecting the United States and strengthening its military.
