House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated on Monday, October 26, that Democrats will take action to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if they win a majority in the November midterm elections. Jeffries indicated that if President Donald Trump does not fire Hegseth, Democrats will use legislative mechanisms to oust him, saying they will run the Pentagon chief "out of town."
The move follows long-standing calls from Jeffries for Hegseth's removal, dating back to the spring of 2025. Democrats have recently focused on Hegseth amid rising gas prices and the ongoing war in Iran, which have become central issues in the midterm campaigns. Additionally, bipartisan concerns have emerged regarding a disruption in Ukraine’s Starlink satellite internet service, which is used for battlefield communication and drone warfare.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) initiated the impeachment process for Hegseth in September 2026. While Jeffries has not explicitly stated if he will vote for the current impeachment resolution, he described Hegseth as "deeply unqualified" and said the House will vote on the matter when it returns next month. In the Senate, Adam Schiff (D-CA) suggested on Sunday, October 25, that Hegseth should be called to testify regarding the Starlink disruptions, noting that SpaceX owner Elon Musk and President Trump have denied responsibility for the service issues.
If Democrats retake the House, a successful impeachment would require a simple majority vote, followed by a trial in the Senate. A person would notice the impact of this move through shifts in national defense policy and potential changes in U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, such as the wars in Ukraine and Iran. The knock-on effects could include changes to how the U.S. government interacts with private contractors like SpaceX, particularly regarding military-controlled technology like Starshield. A successful ouster of a cabinet official by an opposing party in Congress would set a precedent for legislative oversight of executive appointments during divided government.
The next concrete steps occur in November 2026, when Congress returns to Capitol Hill to vote on the impeachment resolution initiated by Rep. Massie. The outcome of the midterm elections will determine if Democrats have the majority necessary to pursue further testimony or removal proceedings in 2027. Precise dates for committee hearings or a Senate trial have not been established and depend on the results of the upcoming vote and the election.