Democrats Signal Hegseth Could Face Impeachment as They Aim to Reclaim the House
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If Democrats take back the House, they say they will intensify scrutiny of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and may move toward impeachment, while Republicans offer a divided response and some voices inside the party grow uneasy with the Pentagon’s conduct in the Iran war.
Congressional Democrats say they will make Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a central target of oversight if they win the House in next week’s midterm elections, including the possibility of impeachment. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican, has said he will push for an impeachment vote after the election if Hegseth remains in office, arguing that retiring GOP members may feel less pressure to shield him.
Speaker Mike Johnson has so far blocked any impeachment vote, dismissing the effort as a “stunt” and praising Hegseth’s performance, even as a source familiar with Republican thinking said some GOP members are increasingly frustrated with the secretary and the Pentagon’s handling of the war in Iran.
Democratic aides describe Hegseth as “the lowest-hanging fruit” for investigations, and they expect hearings on the decision to go to war, the conduct of the conflict, and the absence of a full accounting of its costs. If Democrats regain the chamber, House and Senate Armed Services Committee members plan broad probes into the Iran war.
President Donald Trump defended Hegseth, calling the impeachment talk “terrible” and saying the secretary is “doing a great job.” Pentagon spokespersons also issued statements praising Hegseth’s leadership and the department’s emphasis on “peace through strength.”
Other Trump cabinet officials, including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could also come under oversight if Democrats retake the House. Some Democrats, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, say investigating Hegseth is necessary regardless of whether the Senate would convict.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon said he was unsure whether he would vote for impeachment, but he stressed the importance of oversight and noted that how voters view congressional checks and balances could shape upcoming elections.
The midterm outcome will determine whether impeachment proceedings advance and how the Senate, led by Majority Leader John Thune, may react.