Congress to Vote on Hegseth Impeachment Next Week

The House of Representatives is required to vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during its next scheduled session, which begins next week. This procedural requirement follows the recent midterm elections, in which Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate, though vote counting continues in several states.

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a privileged resolution for the impeachment. Under current House rules, such a motion must be placed on the floor for consideration. Massie stated on social media that he would only withdraw the effort if Hegseth resigned from his post.

Support for the removal effort has crossed party lines. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina posted on X on Friday, criticizing Hegseth's performance. Tillis cited "incompetence," "bad advice" to the president, and specific incidents including the firing of top generals and the sharing of war plans with reporters.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly described Hegseth's work as a "very good job." Hegseth responded to the growing pressure on Thursday with a video statement. He described the effort as political theater and the politics of personal destruction, asserting that it would not succeed against him as it did not against the president.

The timing of the vote creates a distinct strategic challenge for the White House. If Hegseth departs before the lame-duck session concludes, President Trump could seek confirmation for a replacement in the current Congress. In January, a new administration would face a more difficult path to confirm a defense secretary in a body controlled by Democrats.