House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated on Friday, November 6, 2026, that his party will seek to end the conflict in Iran and conduct oversight of the Trump administration following Democratic victories in the midterm elections. Jeffries, who is positioned to become the next Speaker of the House, called for the removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but did not commit to pursuing impeachment proceedings.
The statements follow the November 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats gained majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Jeffries described the ongoing conflict in Iran as a "war of choice" and attributed rising costs for gasoline, diesel, and fertilizer to the military engagement.
Jeffries said Democrats could utilize a war powers resolution to attempt to force an end to the war. While Democrats hold majorities, Jeffries noted the party currently lacks the two-thirds majority in both chambers required to override a potential presidential veto. Regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Jeffries stated "he's got to go," but said he did not want to "get out ahead of the caucus" when asked if the House would pursue impeachment.
The use of a war powers resolution represents a move by the incoming Congress to assert authority over military operations. This would force the Trump administration to either end military involvement or issue a veto. For federal employees and military personnel, the outcome of these investigations and resolutions will determine the leadership of the Department of Defense and the duration of overseas deployments. The House Judiciary and Oversight committees are also expected to begin investigations into the administration.
The next steps for these initiatives will begin when the new Congress is seated in January 2027. Before then, Jeffries stated that the House Democratic Caucus will meet to decide on its leadership and whether to proceed with impeachment against Hegseth, who is currently facing a resignation threat from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). The effectiveness of the war powers resolution will depend on whether Democrats can secure additional support to reach a two-thirds majority, as they are currently reported to be short of the threshold needed to override a veto. The exact dates for the committee investigations and leadership votes have not yet been established.