Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, November 9, 2026. The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday, November 10, to refer the 34-page resolution to a committee, a move that effectively halted the impeachment push after no other Republicans joined Massie and House Democrats in supporting the measure.
The resolution followed a series of military operations during President Trump's second term, including hostilities with Iran, the capture of Venezuelan leaders, and strikes in the Caribbean and Yemen. Secretary Hegseth defended his actions during a press conference Tuesday morning, characterizing the impeachment resolution as "political spectacle."
The articles accused Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by initiating and continuing a war with Iran without congressional authorization. While the administration argued that hostilities had terminated by May 1, 2026, the resolution alleged that Hegseth directed U.S. forces to continue fighting past legally mandated deadlines. Further articles focused on a February strike on an Iranian school that reportedly killed 170 civilians, as well as a September 2025 campaign against drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean that resulted in at least 243 deaths.
Additional charges centered on a January 2026 special operations raid in Caracas to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, which the resolution described as an unauthorized act of war. Massie also accused Hegseth of retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) by threatening to reduce his military rank after Kelly told service members they could refuse illegal orders. The final article cited 1,100 strikes in Yemen, alleging Hegseth acted without an imminent threat to the United States.
The proceedings centered on the enforcement of the War Powers Resolution, which requires the executive branch to end unauthorized hostilities within 60 to 90 days. A successful impeachment or a change in policy regarding these operations would have altered how the Department of Defense allocates personnel, aircraft, and weapons systems for international missions. The resolution alleged that the raid in Venezuela alone involved 200 special operations personnel and 150 aircraft. The dismissal of these articles maintains the current administration's interpretation of "hostilities" and its authority to conduct strikes against drug-trafficking vessels and foreign targets without specific new declarations of war from Congress.
The referral of the resolution to committee on November 10 effectively ends the immediate threat of a Senate trial for Hegseth. However, the underlying conflicts regarding congressional oversight of military actions remain unresolved. The federal court system previously intervened in the administration's attempt to censure Sen. Kelly, and future military actions in Iran or the Caribbean may face continued legal and legislative scrutiny. No further votes on these specific articles are currently scheduled.