“President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate,” Rep. Thomas Massie said Monday.
The Kentucky Republican paired that advice with action.
In the same announcement, he said he is moving to force House action on eight articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief.
The articles cover allegations tied to the Iran war, other military operations and retaliation against a political critic.
Hegseth heard about it from reporters. Asked whether he had enough Republican support to defeat the effort, he gave a short answer. “We’re not worried about that,” he said.
More is coming Tuesday. Hegseth announced a news conference to address the impeachment threat, and he said he is prepared to argue the administration’s case for its military actions.
He has signaled he intends to defend his record.
Iran sits at the center of the package.
Three of the eight articles allege that Hegseth ordered or prolonged military action there without the authorization the law requires, including action that continued after statutory cutoffs for unauthorized hostilities.
Five other articles range across different subjects and theaters. One addresses civilian casualty protections.
Another concerns lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers. A third deals with the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and a fourth with military operations in Yemen.
The fifth alleges retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
Running through all of it is Massie’s claim that Hegseth violated congressional war powers. The articles are Massie’s allegations, not findings approved by the House.
House procedure puts a stopwatch on the next step.
Once a member gives the required floor notice, a resolution that qualifies as a question of privilege must be scheduled within two legislative days.
That schedule means the matter could reach lawmakers within days of Massie’s notice.
Republican leaders hold a way to avoid a direct vote. A motion to table would let the chamber dispose of the resolution without recording a vote on the impeachment articles themselves.
Massie has been through this before. When he introduced the articles in September, Speaker Mike Johnson ended the House’s pre-election session early.
Members left Washington, and no vote took place.
The calendar looks different now. Republicans are back in the capital after midterm elections that handed Democrats control of the next Congress.
The GOP keeps its House majority only through the remaining weeks of the current session.
Democrats have picked a side.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed the impeachment effort, a move that increases pressure on the Republicans who could determine whether it advances.
Massie’s appeal to Trump ties directly to that timeline. He wants a replacement chosen before the new Congress takes office.
Two thresholds govern what follows. A simple majority in the House would formally impeach Hegseth.
Removal from office is a separate matter. The Senate would have to convict him, with two-thirds of the senators present in agreement.
Monday’s developments leave several markers ahead: Massie’s floor notice, the two-day scheduling requirement, any move by Republican leaders to table the measure, and Hegseth’s news conference Tuesday.
