Massie Moves to Impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth Over Iran War
WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., moved Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran. NPR
Massie read the articles of impeachment, the formal charges, from the House floor just after the chamber opened at noon. The resolution says Hegseth waged the Iran war illegally as "high crimes and misdemeanors." It also says he defied Congress's order to withdraw from the conflict.
The filing forces a floor decision. The House will have to act on the proposal by Thursday. The House plans to leave Washington this week for an extended recess ending after the November midterm elections.
The Pentagon rejected the effort. Press secretary Kingsley Wilson said Hegseth has been a transformative leader for the Department of War. The Trump administration said the Iran conflict was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The measure is listed as H.Res.935 in the 119th Congress (2025-2026). The text proposes impeaching Peter B. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States. Congress.gov
Massie is ending his time in office after losing his primary to an opponent backed by President Trump. He entered Congress in November 2012 after serving as Lewis County Judge Executive. He represents Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, which stretches across Northern Kentucky and 261 miles of the Ohio River. House
In this Congress, Massie, working with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., led the effort to compel the Trump administration to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The push follows open conflict between Massie and Hegseth. In May, Hegseth stepped away from war duties to campaign against Massie in Kentucky. At a rally there, Hegseth endorsed Republican candidate Ed Gallrein and criticized the incumbent Massie. Reuters
The broader context here is calendar and accountability. A pre-recess filing compels every member to go on record before leaving town for the midterms, even when leadership would prefer to avoid the vote. For floor staff, the question is procedural, whether the House tables, refers or votes directly, and how members in competitive districts explain that choice back home. For the Pentagon, the question is operational continuity while its civilian leader faces a formal House challenge tied to war powers and congressional direction on Iran.
