Rep. Thomas Massie moved Monday to force a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of illegally waging war against Iran and abusing his authority at the Pentagon.
Mr. Massie, Kentucky Republican and a frequent critic of President Trump’s foreign policy, said Mr. Hegseth violated several provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by continuing military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.
Mr. Massie accused Mr. Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” saying it requires his removal from office.
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“Secretary Hegseth knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders to initiate a war against a foreign nation notwithstanding the absence of congressional authorization,” Mr. Massie said on the House floor.
“Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to civilians, the lawful conduct of the United States military operations, the integrity and credibility of the United States armed forces and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” Mr. Massie said.
He also accused Mr. Hegseth of disregarding laws designed to minimize civilian casualties, illegally authorizing deadly military strikes against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and violating the law by retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona Democrat, for criticizing military operations.
Other articles of impeachment concern the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and unauthorized military action in Yemen.
Mr. Hegseth said earlier Monday that he’s eager to defend the policy choices that he and Mr. Trump made in Iran and Venezuela.
“If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or banning Nicolas Maduro, you’re taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic,” he told reporters, referring to the code names for the larger war against Iran and a campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen.
Mr. Hegseth said going to war against Iran was the correct move, making the same case that Mr. Trump has repeatedly made that Tehran can’t have a nuclear bomb.
Mr. Massie had initially introduced the impeachment resolution in September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, recessed the chamber before lawmakers could vote.
Many Republicans, including Vice President J. D. Vance, have blamed the Iran war for the party’s midterm wipeout. Despite the backlash from within his own party, Mr. Trump said he has “every intention to keep” Mr. Hegseth at the Pentagon.
A vote could come within days, but Republican leaders could offer a motion to “table” the resolution rather than take a direct vote on the underlying measure. That would need to pass by a simple majority.
It’s unclear whether an impeachment effort will succeed in the House. Mr. Massie told reporters Monday that no Republican lawmakers have committed to vote for impeachment.
Democrats are expected to overwhelmingly support impeachment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, said Sunday he was a firm supporter of removing Mr. Hegseth.
“The Senate needs to put Pete Hegseth on trial, so we can remove him for his catastrophic failure in Iran,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said on the floor Monday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Monday that if the Senate has to hold an impeachment trial this year, it would eat up the limited floor time Republicans have to confirm conservative judges before they lose the majority. He said it would also distract from other year-end legislative efforts, such as funding the government beyond Dec. 11.
— Lindsey McPherson contributed to this article.
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