House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has signaled a fierce intent to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office, declaring himself a hard yes on potential impeachment proceedings. Speaking on ABC’s This Week, the New York congressman accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and undermining national security through what he described as a reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. The comments come at a pivotal moment for Jeffries, who is widely expected to ascend to the role of Speaker once Democrats take control of the House in January following their recent midterm landslide.
The push for removal is gaining momentum from an unexpected quarter, as outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie prepares to introduce a resolution containing eight articles of impeachment. Massie alleges that Hegseth bypassed legal requirements by engaging in conflict with Iran without necessary congressional authorization under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. While the Pentagon has dismissed these claims as phony investigations and insisted that all laws were followed, the legislative pressure continues to mount as the political landscape shifts toward Democratic leadership.
Secretary Hegseth remains defiant despite the looming threat, recently releasing a video where he characterized the impeachment efforts as sham articles and political theater designed for personal destruction. He argued that such tactics failed against President Trump and would similarly fail against him. President Trump echoed this sentiment during an appearance on 60 Minutes, calling the calls for impeachment very unfair while boasting about military victories in Venezuela and Iran.
While Democrats hold a substantial majority in the House that makes passing articles of impeachment highly likely, removing Hegseth entirely presents a steeper challenge. A conviction requires a two thirds majority in the Senate, meaning Jeffries and his colleagues would need significant bipartisan support from Republicans to actually oust the defense chief. For now, however, Jeffries views this move as part of a broader commitment to ensure that the incoming House serves as a critical check and balance on the Trump administration.
