Kentucky’s Thomas Massie files articles accusing defence secretary of waging unauthorised war and other abuses of power.
A Republican member of the US House of Representatives has introduced articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of abusing his office by directing military hostilities against Iran without congressional authorisation.
Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed the resolution on Tuesday and read the eight articles of impeachment on the House floor. He charged Hegseth with violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by initiating and sustaining the conflict with Iran beyond the statutory time limits without a declaration of war or specific approval from Congress.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said in a statement. He added that Hegseth’s “constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran,” accusing him of ignoring congressional directives, failing to minimise civilian casualties, and abusing his authority in other military actions.
Articles Accuse Hegseth of Unauthorised Military Actions:
The first three articles focus on the Iran war, alleging that Hegseth waged hostilities without proper legal authority, defied a June congressional war powers resolution calling for an end to US involvement unless specifically authorised, and continued operations after the resolution’s time limits expired. A fourth article cites a US strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, early in the conflict that killed more than 168 people, most of them children, according to Iranian reports. Massie argued the attack exposed systemic failures in targeting processes.
Additional articles accuse Hegseth of overseeing extrajudicial strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that resulted in dozens of deaths; retaliating against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly for protected speech after Kelly and other lawmakers reminded service members they could refuse illegal orders; directing an unauthorised operation involving Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro; and related actions in Yemen.
The Pentagon rejected the move. Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said the department remained unified behind Hegseth. “The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first,” Wilson stated.
Massie Pushes Impeachment Resolution Against Hegseth:
Massie, a longtime critic of overseas military interventions and aid to Israel, filed the resolution as a privileged measure, requiring the House to take it up within two legislative days. Republican leaders could seek to table it. The effort is widely viewed as unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled House, though it could force an uncomfortable vote for some lawmakers ahead of the November midterm elections.
Massie lost his primary earlier this year to a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump after clashing with the administration on several issues, including the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. He is not seeking re-election and will leave Congress in January. Democrats had previously introduced their own articles of impeachment against Hegseth in April over the Iran conflict, but those efforts also stalled.
The US military campaign against Iran, now in its seventh month, has grown increasingly unpopular with segments of the American public. Congress has repeatedly debated war powers measures seeking to constrain or end the operations. Supporters of the administration maintain the conflict was necessary to address Iranian threats, while critics, including Massie, argue it has proceeded without the constitutionally required legislative consent and at significant human cost.