Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a growing impeachment threat after the Republican Party’s devastating midterm election losses, with GOP leaders reportedly preparing for enough Republican defections to help Democrats advance an impeachment resolution against him.
The development comes as frustration spreads throughout the Republican conference following Tuesday’s elections, which saw Democrats capture control of Congress and deliver a major political setback to President Donald Trump.
According to Axios, Republican leaders are bracing for a potentially damaging vote this week as lawmakers prepare to consider articles of impeachment against Hegseth.
The effort is being spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican who has repeatedly clashed with Trump and his administration.
Massie intends to force a House vote on a resolution accusing Hegseth of defying Congress and unlawfully continuing American military operations against Iran.
The proposed impeachment comes amid mounting criticism of the conflict, which several Republicans believe contributed to the party’s electoral defeat.
One GOP lawmaker expressed frustration with the decision to launch military operations before the midterms.
“Iran, Iran, Iran … We should have never done the war before the midterms,” the lawmaker told Axios.
The criticism reflects broader concerns among Republicans who believe the administration’s handling of the conflict damaged the party’s standing with voters.
Hegseth has become a central target of that frustration, particularly among lawmakers dissatisfied with how the Pentagon has communicated its military objectives.
Another Republican criticized the defense secretary’s public messaging, arguing that his rhetoric undermined efforts to explain the administration’s actions.
The lawmaker described Hegseth’s approach as “very damaging” to efforts to communicate why strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and subsequent military operations were necessary.
The political landscape surrounding the impeachment effort has changed substantially since Election Day.
Before the elections, Republican leaders had avoided forcing members to take a position on Massie’s resolution.
House Speaker Mike Johnson previously canceled votes and sent lawmakers home early, although he denied that the decision was connected to the impeachment controversy.
Now, Republicans who lost their reelection bids may have fewer political reasons to avoid challenging the administration.
Retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska acknowledged that Hegseth has limited support among some lawmakers.
Bacon told Fox News that the defense secretary does not have “a lot of love” on Capitol Hill.
He also told Axios that he remained undecided about how he would vote on the impeachment resolution.
Meanwhile, Hegseth’s future within the administration has reportedly become another subject of discussion.
Axios previously reported that some Trump administration officials were advocating his removal amid growing dissatisfaction with his leadership.
However, Trump publicly defended Hegseth Wednesday, telling reporters that he intended to keep him in his position.
The defense secretary has also pushed back forcefully against the impeachment effort.
In a video posted Thursday, Hegseth dismissed the proceedings as a “sham” and criticized Massie as a “disgruntled, defeated congressman.”
Massie, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger, responded by calling on the president to replace Hegseth while Republicans still control the Senate.
“There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” Massie wrote.
The Pentagon has also rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the department had followed the law and would not be distracted by politically motivated investigations.
“Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists,” Parnell said in a statement to Axios.
He further emphasized that Hegseth remained committed to serving through the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
The impeachment threat presents a potentially significant challenge for the administration.
If enough Republicans join Democrats in supporting Massie’s resolution, the House could approve articles of impeachment while Republicans still control the chamber.
However, impeachment by the House would not automatically remove Hegseth from office. Conviction and removal would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
The situation could become more complicated in January, when Democrats assume control of the House and gain the authority to pursue their own investigations and impeachment proceedings.
For now, the immediate question is whether enough Republicans will break with Trump to support the impeachment resolution.
With the House preparing for a vote and Hegseth refusing to resign, the defense secretary faces one of the most consequential political challenges of his tenure.
