House Republican leaders are preparing for a possible split within their party as lawmakers get ready to vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Several Republicans may break ranks and support the move. The vote is expected to take place this week.
The growing push comes after a major defeat for Republicans in the midterm elections. Some GOP lawmakers who lost their seats may now feel freer to oppose the Trump administration. This could increase support for removing Hegseth from office.
The impeachment effort is being led by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. He plans to bring a resolution to the House floor. The measure accuses Hegseth of defying Congress and continuing the US war in Iran without legal authority.
The issue has become a serious challenge for Republican leaders. Before the election, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana took steps that kept the measure from reaching a vote. He canceled several votes and sent lawmakers home early. Johnson denied that his decision was linked to Massie’s impeachment plan.
At the time, Republican leaders faced a difficult political choice. A vote against Hegseth could have created problems for the party just weeks before the midterm elections. However, the political situation has changed since the GOP’s heavy losses.
The election result has increased anger among House Republicans. Many lawmakers are now questioning the party’s decisions and its handling of the Iran war. Some believe the conflict damaged the GOP’s chances at the polls.
One Republican lawmaker said the party should never have started the war before the midterm elections. The lawmaker pointed to Iran as a major source of frustration within the party.
Hegseth has become a key target of this anger. Many lawmakers see him as one of the main public faces of the military campaign. Some Republicans also believe his comments have made it harder for the government to explain its actions.
One GOP member said Hegseth’s tone and public statements had harmed efforts to explain why US strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites were needed. The lawmaker also raised concerns about how the administration had explained other military actions.
Retiring Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska also said Hegseth had limited support on Capitol Hill. Bacon told Fox News that the defense secretary did not have much backing among lawmakers. He has not yet decided how he will vote on the impeachment measure.
The pressure on Hegseth is not limited to Congress. Some officials inside the Trump administration are also said to be pushing for his removal. This has placed the defense secretary in a difficult position as he faces growing questions about his future.
President Donald Trump defended Hegseth on Wednesday. He told reporters that he intended to keep him in the job. The statement offered public support for the defense secretary as calls for his removal increased.
However, Hegseth could face a much larger challenge in January. Democrats are expected to take control of the House. A new Democratic majority would have the power to launch investigations and begin impeachment proceedings if Hegseth remains in office.
Hegseth has strongly rejected the current impeachment effort. In a video posted on X on Thursday, he called it a sham. He also described Massie as a disgruntled and defeated congressman.
Massie responded by calling on Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still control the Senate. He said he would not bring back the impeachment articles if Hegseth resigned. His statement suggests that the defense secretary’s departure could end the current dispute.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also defended Hegseth. He said the defense secretary would not be discouraged by politicians seeking political attention or launching what he called false investigations.
Parnell said the Department of War had followed the law. He added that Hegseth remained committed to supporting the Constitution, leading US troops and protecting the country.
He also said the department would continue to carry out Trump’s agenda. According to Parnell, Hegseth plans to remain in charge until the end of Trump’s term.
Even if the House approves the impeachment measure, Hegseth would not automatically lose his job. The Senate would need to hold a trial and secure a two-thirds majority to remove him from office.
That level of support could be difficult to achieve. Even if Democrats gain control of the Senate in January, they would still need support from Republicans to reach the required number of votes.
The coming House vote could therefore reveal how much support Hegseth has lost within the GOP. It may also show how deeply the Iran war and the election defeat have divided Republican lawmakers.
