House Republican leaders are reportedly preparing for the possibility that enough members of their party could break ranks to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a vote expected during the week of November 9. The challenge is being driven by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who plans to force a vote on impeachment articles accusing Hegseth of defying Congress and continuing the US military campaign against Iran without proper authorization. The effort gained momentum following the November 3 midterm elections, which delivered major losses for Republicans and left some outgoing lawmakers with less political incentive to remain aligned with party leadership. According to reporting by Axios, House GOP leaders believe defections could provide enough support for the measure to pass, while Massie has expressed confidence that the resolution could secure approval. President Donald Trump, however, has publicly defended Hegseth, saying he intends to keep him in his position. Hegseth has dismissed the impeachment effort as a sham led by a disgruntled, defeated congressman, while Massie has said he would abandon the push if the defense secretary resigns.

The accusations against Hegseth center on Massie's claim that the Pentagon chief continued military operations against Iran despite congressional efforts to exercise its constitutional authority over decisions involving war. Massie's resolution contains multiple articles of impeachment, including allegations involving the administration's handling of military operations and its response to congressional oversight. The Trump administration disputes the claim that its military campaign is unlawful, maintaining that the president has authority to direct the operations. Even if the House approves impeachment by a simple majority, that vote would not automatically remove Hegseth from office. The Senate would still have to convict him by a two-thirds majority, a significantly higher threshold that would require support beyond a simple Democratic majority. The coming House vote will therefore test Republican unity and could intensify scrutiny of the administration's Iran policy, while the Senate's separate role will determine whether impeachment leads to Hegseth's removal.