From unlawful killings to disregard for civilian safety, Massie goes all out in 34-page bid for Hegseth’s impeachment
Second call.
Representative Thomas Massie has officially launched a formal effort to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to The Hill, this development came on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as Massie introduced a 34-page resolution on the House floor. He is accusing the War Secretary of committing high crimes and misdemeanors. The core of his argument rests on the claim that the Pentagon has engaged in military actions that were never approved by Congress.
Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has taken a very aggressive approach by making his resolution privileged. This procedural move forces the resolution to the House floor for a vote within two days. It is a significant escalation from a lawmaker who has been a frequent critic of Donald Trump.
Massie previously lost his primary election to Ed Gallrein, a candidate who received support from the President. During that primary campaign, Hegseth traveled to Kentucky to support Gallrein. At that time, Hegseth described Massie as an obstructionist and claimed that being against everything eventually becomes an excuse for accomplishing nothing.
The 34-page document outlines eight specific articles of impeachment against Hegseth
These charges cover a wide range of allegations regarding the Secretary’s conduct in office. Massie argues that Hegseth violated his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He also claims the Secretary failed in his duty to ensure that laws are faithfully executed, particularly regarding the commission of war. The articles allege that Hegseth has abused the powers of the Department of Defense on multiple fronts.
Articles I through III focus specifically on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Massie contends that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution by continuing military operations without the necessary congressional authorization.
The War Powers Resolution requires a president to end unauthorized military involvement within 60 days unless Congress provides formal approval. It allows for an additional 30 days for a safe withdrawal of troops. Massie believes the current campaign in Iran has clearly exceeded these legal boundaries.
The other articles of impeachment address a variety of serious claims
Article IV accuses the Secretary of disregarding laws and policies meant to minimize civilian casualties. Article V alleges that the Pentagon has conducted unlawful killings during counternarcotics operations. It claims that traditional law enforcement methods were replaced with lethal military strikes that led to hundreds of deaths.
Article VI accuses Hegseth of suppressing free speech by allegedly retaliating against Senator Mark Kelly. This charge stems from the claim that the Department of Defense targeted the Senator after he criticized military orders.
Article VII alleges that Hegseth directed an unauthorized operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the first lady, Cilia Flores. Finally, Article VIII centers on operations in Yemen, where Massie claims hostilities were initiated without congressional approval while contributing to civilian harm.
The Pentagon has stood firmly behind the Secretary
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson issued a statement on Tuesday praising Hegseth as a transformative leader. Wilson argued that standards and merit are back and that the nation’s arsenal is stronger than ever. He noted that morale and recruitment across every service are at all-time highs.
According to the Pentagon, Hegseth has slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered results for warfighters. The official stance is that the Department of War is better under the leadership of President Trump and Hegseth than it was before. Wilson emphasized that the entire department remains unified behind this vision.
According to CNN, Attorney General Todd Blanche also defended the Secretary during a press briefing in the White House Rose Garden. He insisted that Hegseth follows the law and that the Department of Justice plays an active role in ensuring compliance. Blanche stated that the Secretary of War does not just go off and do things on his own. He characterized Hegseth as someone who is doing a phenomenal job.
This is not the first time Hegseth has faced impeachment threats
In April, Democratic Representative Yassamin Ansari introduced articles of impeachment against him over the war in Iran. That effort included six articles and was signed by a dozen Democratic cosponsors. Newsweek reports that Ansari accused Hegseth of breaking his oath, putting troops at risk, and engaging in conduct beneath the dignity of his office.
She specifically cited strikes on civilians and a girls school in Minab, Iran, as evidence of his misconduct. That previous attempt did not move forward and never reached a floor vote.
It remains unclear if Massie’s current resolution will gain significant support from his fellow Republicans. While the House has passed two war powers resolutions in the past with some bipartisan support, impeachment is a much higher hurdle. As of Tuesday, lawmakers were also debating a new war powers resolution that would direct President Trump to remove U.S. forces from the conflict in Iran.
Massie is clearly hoping to use this moment to force a reckoning on executive power. He explicitly told the House floor that Peter Brian Hegseth warrants impeachment, trial, removal from office, and disqualification from holding any future office. Time will tell how the House responds when the vote occurs.
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